public

[puhb-lik]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole.

   public funds;

   a public nuisance.

2. done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole.

   public prosecution.

3. open to all persons.

   a public meeting.

4. of, relating to, or being in the service of a community or nation, especially as a government officer.

   a public official.

5. maintained at the public expense and under public control.

   a public library;

   a public road.

6. generally known.

   The fact became public.

7. familiar to the public; prominent.

   public figures.

8. open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public.

   a public dispute.

9. pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community.

   public spirit.

10. of or relating to all humankind; universal.

noun

1. the people constituting a community, state, or nation.

2. a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc..

   the book-buying public.

3. British Informal.,  a tavern; public house.

public

/ ˈpʌblɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or concerning the people as a whole

2. open or accessible to all

   public gardens

3. performed or made openly or in the view of all

   public proclamation

4. (prenominal) well-known or familiar to people in general

   a public figure

5. (usually prenominal) maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community

   a public library

6. open, acknowledged, or notorious

   a public scandal

7. 1. (of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public

   2. to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information

noun

1. the community or people in general

2. a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc

   the racing public

Other Word Forms

• nonpublic adjective
• quasi-public adjective
• quasi-publicly adverb
• unpublic adjective
• unpublicly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of public¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin pūblicus, earlier pōblicus, pōplicus (spelling influenced by pūbēs “adulthood”; pubes ), ultimately from popul(us) people + -icus -ic; replacing late Middle English publique, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of public¹

C15: from Latin pūblicus, changed from pōplicus of the people, from populus people

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in public, not in private; in a situation open to public view or access; publicly.

   It was the first time that she had sung in public.

2. go public,

   1. to issue stock for sale to the general public.

   2. to present private or previously concealed information, news, etc., to the public; make matters open to public view.

      The senator threatened to go public with his congressional-reform plan.

3. make public, to cause to become known generally, as through the news media.

   Her resignation was made public this morning.

see go public; in public; in the public eye; John Doe (Q. Public); wash one's dirty linen in public.

Example Sentences

It was Kennedy's record on vaccines which particularly worried many public health experts when he took office in February.

From BBC

But the end of the August recess in Washington — and the oncoming flu and COVID-19 season — could return public attention to subjects that have proved politically perilous for the president this week.

From Los Angeles Times

A public admonishment is typically issued for serious misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times

Effective public health messaging – which has drilled "Slip, Slop, Slap" into their heads – competes with a beauty culture which often idolises bronzed skin.

From BBC

The party's annual conference is an increasingly professional affair and Reform's sustained lead in the opinion polls has clearly been noted by public affairs professionals.

From BBC

Related Words

• civic 
• civil 
• communal 
• governmental www.thesaurus.com
• mutual 
• national 
• popular 
• social 
• universal 
• urban 

When To Use

What does public mean?

Public is the people who make up a community, state, or nation, as in When a government raises taxes, the public has a right to know. A single person in this context is a member of the public.Related to that, public is used to describe many things connected to the public, such as something related to it (public funds), providing a benefit to it (public school), or providing a service (public official).Public can also describe something that is open or available to everyone, such as a public event or public information.And public can describe something or someone known by the public. A celebrity is someone well known by very many people, so they are sometimes called public figures.Example: Schools funded by the public are generally open to all students in the area.