public figure

American  

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

noun

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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Example Sentences

"This isn't really an accusation, something from more than 30 years ago, but rather a public attack on a public figure," Fabian Fernandez, a 30-year-old accountant, told AFP in Havana.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

During his opening statement, Molo gently reminded the jury that though Musk is a polarizing public figure, he still deserves a fair trial.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

“Being a public figure, I’ve always sold,” explains Wilkinson.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Although Høiby is neither a public figure nor a royal, the trial has not spared the royal house from damage.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

But there was a more recent author and public figure whose work spoke to the core of a new set of issues I was struggling with: the Bronx’s own Colin Powell.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

Related Words

• someone
• whoever