public domain
Americannoun
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the status of a literary work or an invention whose copyright or patent has expired or that never had such protection.
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land owned by the government.
noun
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lands owned by a state or by the federal government
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the status of a published work or invention upon which the copyright or patent has expired or which has not been patented or subject to copyright. It may thus be freely used by the public
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able to be discussed and examined freely by the general public
Other Word Forms
- public-domain adjective
Etymology
Origin of public domain
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35
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.
In the probate filing, which is in the public domain, she is listed as “interested person.”
From Barron's
In the probate filing, which is in the public domain, she is listed as “interested person.”
From Barron's
In the probate filing, which is in the public domain, she is listed as “interested person.”
From Barron's
In the probate filing, which is in the public domain, she is listed as “interested person.”
From Barron's
In the probate filing, which is in the public domain, she is listed as “interested person.”
From MarketWatch
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.
