public relations

American  

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.

2. (used with a singular verb) the art, technique, or profession of promoting such goodwill.

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public relations British  

noun

1. 1. the practice of creating, promoting, or maintaining goodwill and a favourable image among the public towards an institution, public body, etc

   2. the methods and techniques employed

   3. ( as modifier )

      the public relations industry

2. the condition of the relationship between an organization and the public

3. the professional staff employed to create, promote, or maintain a favourable relationship between an organization and the public

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Etymology

Origin of public relations

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public relations

“The stories that appeared were carefully controlled by the studios’ public relations staff.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026

"There are incentives," Ren said, but they have more to do with public relations amid the growing backlash to data centers across the United States.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

On a break outside the courtroom, Garcia, who is studying for his master’s degree in public relations, confessed he had “no idea what anybody’s talking about.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

“When you put all this together, what you see is Flock treating privacy issues as public relations issues,” he told The New York Times.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

They created the most effective public relations campaign in history, inventing techniques that we use to this day.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson