public affairs
Americannoun
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(used with a plural verb) matters of general interest or concern, especially those dealing with current social or political issues.
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(used with a singular verb) the field of study dealing with current social or political issues.
Etymology
Origin of public affairs
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.
Around 350 members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces arrived last week in Borneo's hard-hit West Kalimantan province, with three helicopters on hand to assist with firefighting efforts, the mission's public affairs officer Takeshi Koga told AFP.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
In my work as a professor of politics and public affairs, I pay close attention to the stories Americans tell about their past and the ways those stories shape civic identity in the present.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
John Sutter, head of U.S. public affairs at data-center builder Nebius, echoed this sentiment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
“To an algorithm, a gun barrel and a piece of pipe are the same grooved cylinder,” Jakub Kmošek, head of public affairs at Prusa, said in a statement to The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
He finally had the chance to host his own public affairs show.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.