public figure

American  

[puhb-lik fig-yer] / ˈpʌb lɪk ˈfɪg jər /

noun

• public figures
  plural

1. a person who is widely known; celebrity.

   The journalist talked about the often troubled relationship between public figures and the news media.

   Famous athletes, actors, and other public figures have championed the issue.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• public figures
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public figure

Coltrane was a version of the resurrected black man, much like Malcolm X, a public figure he admired.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

The last 20 years, Marx said, have been one big “lowest-common-denominator fight for attention,” meaning it was easier than ever to remain a public figure and make money off the resulting eyeballs.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

Forbes was also a public figure in a proposal to redevelop Fisherman’s Wharf, which envisions constructing a public plaza and adding a new overlook and lighting to the wharf’s inner lagoon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

He said he was "the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times" and that the "unconditional" gift would help cover his personal security costs.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

So I quickly became a public figure within this Muslim world, regularly traveling to speak about my experiences as a minority member of Team USA.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• someone
• whoever