public gallery

British

noun

Also called: strangers' gallery. the gallery in a chamber of Parliament reserved for members of the public who wish to listen to the proceedings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

"It was an intensely emotional moment. Nearly everyone in the public gallery appeared to be crying," he says.

From BBC

Head down and facing away from a row of reporters filling the press bench and public gallery, he spoke only to confirm his name, age, address and to state "guilty" as the charge against him was read out.

From BBC

The Scottish government's bill was passed by MSPs September this year, with Miss M and the Duffys watching from the public gallery at the Scottish Parliament.

From BBC

Yet on this Thursday morning, around a dozen people have chosen to spend their free time watching MPs in the House of Commons public gallery instead.

From BBC

Lib Dem MP Claire Young acknowledges the subject matter may be "pretty dry" and many in the public gallery take that as their cue to leave.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023