public house
Americannoun
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British. a tavern.
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an inn or hostelry.
noun
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the formal name for pub
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an inn, tavern, or small hotel
Etymology
Origin of public house
First recorded in 1565–75
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.
The West Midlands is home to many of the establishments, which combine a public house with Indian food and Punjabi music, and symbolise integration despite origins in segregation.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2025
"This year it is a public house at Fotheringhaye," he says.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2023
“This is an old-school public house, I love that term, public house,” Donald said.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 16, 2020
A record of customers will be kept, challenging the ethos of a public house open to all without membership or registration.
From Reuters ● Jul. 2, 2020
“I talked it over with a few members of the council and we decided that it would be quite all right for you to use the public house if you would care to.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
