public interest

noun

1. the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth.

   health programs that directly affect the public interest.

2. appeal or relevance to the general populace.

   a news story of public interest.

Other Word Forms

• public-interest adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of public interest¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Related Words

• glare 
• prominence 
• public eye 
• spotlight