publication
Americannoun
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publications
plural
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the act of publishing a book, periodical, map, piece of music, engraving, or the like.
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the act of bringing before the public; announcement.
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the state or fact of being published.
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something that is published, especially a periodical.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of publication
1350–1400; Middle English publicacioun < Latin pūblicātiōn- (stem of pūblicātiō ) a making public, confiscation, equivalent to pūblicāt ( us ) (past participle of pūblicāre to make public ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A publication is something made to communicate with the public. Publications are usually printed on paper (like magazines and books), but online publications are delivered via the Internet. The noun publication comes from the Latin word publicare, meaning “make public.” Publication usually means something is written and made available publicly, but a company or government can submit publications of things like earnings or unemployment indexes that are communicated differently. If you are an aspiring author, publication of your work is, most likely, the Holy Grail you seek.
Vocabulary lists containing publication
National Librarian Day
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Reading: Informational - Middle School
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Media Literacy - High School
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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.
See Examples For:
In the weeks leading up to the publication of the essay, Hassabis previewed his idea to Bessent and Kratsios.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The work eventually progressed toward publication and possible industrial use.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Speaking to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, external in February, the defender said he "had not been well for a while", adding: "I had anxiety for 18 months and it became depression."
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
While the Social Security Administration has already processed most adjustments and issued many retroactive payments, some retirees are still waiting because of administrative backlogs and complex eligibility cases, according to the publication Government Executive.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
I should think you would be more responsible with the information you print in the publication you choose to call a newspaper.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
US media, including specialist military publications, have quoted multiple relatives of crew members saying living conditions have deteriorated on the Abraham Lincoln.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Both publications agreed the result exposed “the limits of the left” and its power.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
The more articles I publish, and the more publications that showcase my work, the deeper the old negative press gets pushed to the bottom.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
The recognition followed years of fossil analysis, scientific publications, conference presentations, and his influential 2002 book about the giant crocodilian.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
It’s so awful that many publications even cheat to avoid it, and write “The Raven’s”— definitely incorrect, although much prettier.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
