public

[ puhb-lik ]

/ ˈpʌb lɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR public ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

noun

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.

Nearby words

pubic region, pubic symphysis, pubiotomy, pubis, publ., public, public access, public accountant, public act, public address system, public administration

Idioms

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

1400–50; < Latin pūblicus (earlier pōblicus, pōplicus, akin to populus people); replacing late Middle English publique < Middle French < Latin, as above

Related forms

non·pub·lic, adjectivequa·si-pub·lic, adjectivequa·si-pub·lic·ly, adverbun·pub·lic, adjective

un·pub·lic·ly, adverb

Can be confused

pubic public

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for go public

public

/ (ˈpʌblɪk) /

adjective

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

open or accessible to allpublic gardens

performed or made openly or in the view of allpublic proclamation

(prenominal) well-known or familiar to people in generala public figure

(usually prenominal) maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a communitya public library

open, acknowledged, or notoriousa public scandal

go public

(of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public
to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information

noun

the community or people in general

a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etcthe racing public

Word Origin for public

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with go public (1 of 2)

go public

Become a publicly held company, that is, issue ownership shares in the form of stock. For example, As soon as the company grows a little bigger and begins to show a profit, we intend to go public. [Mid-1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with go public (2 of 2)

public

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