public

American  

[puhb-lik] / ˈpʌb lɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole.

   public funds;

   a public nuisance.

2. done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole.

   public prosecution.

3. open to all persons.

   a public meeting.

4. of, relating to, or being in the service of a community or nation, especially as a government officer.

   a public official.

5. maintained at the public expense and under public control.

   a public library;

   a public road.

6. generally known.

   The fact became public.

7. familiar to the public; prominent.

   public figures.

8. open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public.

   a public dispute.

9. pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community.

   public spirit.

10. of or relating to all humankind; universal.

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noun

1. the people constituting a community, state, or nation.

2. a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc..

   the book-buying public.

3. British Informal. a tavern; public house.

idioms

1. 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.

2. go public,

   1. to issue stock for sale to the general public.

   2. 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.

3. make public, to cause to become known generally, as through the news media.

   Her resignation was made public this morning.

public British  

/ ˈpʌblɪk /

adjective

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

2. open or accessible to all

   public gardens

3. performed or made openly or in the view of all

   public proclamation

4. (prenominal) well-known or familiar to people in general

   a public figure

5. (usually prenominal) maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community

   a public library

6. open, acknowledged, or notorious

   a public scandal

7. 1. (of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public

   2. to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information

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noun

1. the community or people in general

2. a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc

   the racing public

public More Idioms  

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

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Usage

What does public mean? Public is the people who make up a community, state, or nation, as in When a government raises taxes, the public has a right to know. A single person in this context is a member of the public. Related to that, public is used to describe many things connected to the public, such as something related to it (public funds), providing a benefit to it (public school), or providing a service (public official). Public can also describe something that is open or available to everyone, such as a public event or public information. And public can describe something or someone known by the public. A celebrity is someone well known by very many people, so they are sometimes called public figures. Example: Schools funded by the public are generally open to all students in the area.

Other Word Forms

• nonpublic adjective
• quasi-public adjective
• quasi-publicly adverb
• unpublic adjective
• unpublicly adverb

Etymology

Origin of public

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin pūblicus, earlier pōblicus, pōplicus (spelling influenced by pūbēs “adulthood”; pubes ), ultimately from popul(us) people + -icus -ic; replacing late Middle English publique, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Explanation

Something that affects the entire community — whether it's your town, your country, or the world — is public. Climate change, for example, is a public concern, as is finding a clean public bathroom. You can use the word public as a noun, when you're talking about a large group of people. You might say that the public is getting tired of the inefficient bus system in your city, or that the new library branch is open to the public. The adjective public is good for discussing things that concern everyone. The Latin root word, publicus, means "of the people, of the state, common, or ordinary."

Example Sentences

Justin Sun, the crypto entrepreneur, has gone public with his dispute with World Liberty Financial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Given this history, Black constitutional understandings should loom large in any account of the original public meaning of the Reconstruction Amendments.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

Reports that the fuel may have entered the market after being blended with stocks in government storage tanks have sparked public outrage and calls for accountability.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Madison Air will offer the first opportunity for the public to invest alongside Gies, the company noted.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

“Especially if you take the focus away from me with your public declaration of love.”

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• civic
• civil
• communal
• governmental
• mutual
• national
• popular
• social
• universal
• urban