Synonyms

public library

American

noun

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

public libraries

plural

Etymology

Origin of public library

First recorded in 1605–15

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.

See Examples For:

public library

There is a sprawling playground and a public library.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

Nisenbaum produced a 70-foot-long mural to hang in the Chicago public library branch on site.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

In 1960, he was arrested with seven other students after a silent demonstration in a whites-only public library, which led to the desegregation of the library.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

Their paths initially crossed at the Anaheim public library, where they went to peruse its Disneyland collection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025

The stadium also housed the only public library in the township.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023