public library

American  

noun

public libraries plural

1. a nonprofit library established for the use of the general public and maintained chiefly by public funds.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• public libraries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of public library

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public library

The statement added that KN95 masks will be distributed for free at public library branches around the city.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

There is a sprawling playground and a public library.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

The Obama Presidential Center, slated to open this month, includes a public library, basketball court and a sweeping view.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

I turned onto 48th Street at Budlong Avenue and was stunned to see a grand public library, a striking mix of Prairie and Italian Revival architecture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025

She’d used the public library Internet to look for apartment shares.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart