general public

Also the gen·er·al pub·lic

[jen-er-uhl puhb-lik]

noun

1. all or most people, especially those not part of a specified group; ordinary people as opposed to officials, experts, politicians, etc..

   The books have been warmly received by critics and by the general public.

   This protocol can be adopted by any organization wishing to improve workplace health and safety for employees, customers, and the general public.

Word History and Origins

Origin of general public¹

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

"I think it is a question of conscience, and as RTÉ have made this step - it reflects the feeling of the general public and I'm quite sure that throughout the United Kingdom people are equally disgusted by what's going on in Gaza," Mr Coulter told the programme.

From BBC

To the general public, who did not necessarily understand what he had done, only that it was important, he became, at the age of 37, a full-fledged savant.

From Los Angeles Times

Browsh, of CU–Boulder, noted that the two have long been associated with one another in the American mind, that athletes are religious at a higher rate than members of the general public, that sports are often seen as a clean way to keep young people busy and out of trouble, that “in every single interview, we’d see people thanking God, or going on a knee after a touchdown.”

From Slate

The equivalent figures among the general public are 33%, 18% and 50% respectively.

From BBC

"When the general public hears the word treatment, they're thinking detox, rehab, people getting on with their lives."

From BBC

Related Words

• association 
• center 
• company 
• district 
• nation 
• neighborhood 
• people 
• public 
• society 
• state