public
of, relating to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole: public funds;a public nuisance.
done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole: public prosecution.
open to all persons: a public meeting.
of, relating to, or being in the service of a community or nation, especially as a government officer: a public official.
maintained at the public expense and under public control: a public library;a public road.
generally known: The fact became public.
familiar to the public; prominent: public figures.
open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public: a public dispute.
pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community: public spirit.
of or relating to all humankind; universal.
the people constituting a community, state, or nation.
a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc.: the book-buying public.
British Informal. a tavern; public house.
Idioms about public
go public,
to issue stock for sale to the general public.
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.
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.
make public, to cause to become known generally, as through the news media: Her resignation was made public this morning.
Origin of public
1Other words from public
- non·pub·lic, adjective
- quasi-public, adjective
- qua·si-pub·lic·ly, adverb
- un·pub·lic, adjective
- un·pub·lic·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with public
- pubic, public
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use public in a sentence
They need to read tea-leaves, divine the intentions of all and sundry, and work their publics into a froth based on those efforts.
I am not just talking about the publics but also the leadership.
It did not reflect two decades of hostility and would unnerve our respective friends and publics.
Winston Lord on Crafting the Shanghai Communique with Kissinger | Winston Lord | February 20, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTLet publics do that at the polls, and markets do that every day.
Standard & Poor’s and Other Ratings Agencies Must End Their Power Trip | Zachary Karabell | January 12, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTAs a person, he remains popular with many publics around the world.
All favors gratefully ac- knowledged by the Publics most humble servant.Jan 1.
Old Boston Taverns and Tavern Clubs | Samuel Adams DrakeEvery shilling was soon gone, and eversince I've been doing odd jobs and loafing about the publics.
The Book of the Bush | George DunderdaleThe great publics of our countries do not yet, I think, see that they too have their part in the sacred work.
Another Sheaf | John GalsworthyI searched for him high and low in the “publics” at “the other end of the town,” but all in vain.
Adventures and Recollections | Bill o'th' Hoylus EndThey also kept people for the time being out of their favourite "publics."
A Boy's Voyage Round the World | The Son of Samuel Smiles
British Dictionary definitions for public
/ (ˈpʌblɪk) /
of, relating to, or concerning the people as a whole
open or accessible to all: public gardens
performed or made openly or in the view of all: public proclamation
(prenominal) well-known or familiar to people in general: a public figure
(usually prenominal) maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community: a public library
open, acknowledged, or notorious: a public scandal
go public
(of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public
to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information
the community or people in general
a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc: the racing public
Origin of public
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with public
see go public; in public; in the public eye; John Doe (Q. Public); wash one's dirty linen in public.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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