public figure

American  

[puhb-lik fig-yer] / ˈpʌb lɪk ˈfɪg jər /

noun

• public figures
  plural

1. a person who is widely known; celebrity.

   The journalist talked about the often troubled relationship between public figures and the news media.

   Famous athletes, actors, and other public figures have championed the issue.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• public figures
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public figure

We aren’t told their names — save human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, a key public figure that day — because it isn’t the point.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

But he has since remained an elusive public figure -- often seen in a sharp black suit and sunglasses, while largely communicating through social media.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

The last 20 years, Marx said, have been one big “lowest-common-denominator fight for attention,” meaning it was easier than ever to remain a public figure and make money off the resulting eyeballs.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

“Mr. Trump’s compensation reflected the fact that he is a well-known public figure who speaks directly to an audience the Marketplace was built to reach,” Kent said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

“I am not the public figure that some other scythes choose to be. Some scythes prefer the spotlight, but to truly do the job right, it requires a level of anonymity.”

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• someone
• whoever