public nuisance
Britishnoun
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law an illegal act causing harm to members of a particular community rather than to any individual
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informal a person who is generally considered objectionable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The New Mexico Department of Justice is now arguing at the bench trial that Meta’s actions amount to a public nuisance.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
They accused the oil companies of creating a public nuisance by altering the environment and leaving the county to pay to abate growing hazards such as the flooding that tests roads and bridges.
From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026
In early November, the city filed suit against Quirky, asking a judge to declare the bookstore a public nuisance.
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
With the finding gone, legal experts are predicting this will now unravel, leading to a surge in what are called "public nuisance" actions.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
Not only that, but that I had also been charged with resisting arrest and public nuisance.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
