public goods

British  

plural noun

1. services such as national defence, law enforcement, and road building, that are for the benefit of, and available to, all members of the public

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Example Sentences

That was from an international rules-based order, under “American hegemony,” which he said “helped provide public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security, and support for frameworks for resolving disputes.”

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Last March, the SFI, which pays farmers in England for "public goods" such as insecticide-free farming, wildflower strips and managing hedgerows, was suddenly closed because funding had been fully allocated for the year.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

But their contributions to various critical public goods are undeniable, and they left behind many institutions dedicated to many noble ends.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024

Doctorow’s concept about online platforms has since been applied everywhere and anywhere you can find capitalism hollowing out public goods.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2024

Some goods have p = 0, notably endowments, ideas and, in a sense, public goods.

From Definition & Reality in the General Theory of Political Economy by Colignatus, Thomas