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public goods

British  

plural noun

  1. services such as national defence, law enforcement, and road building, that are for the benefit of, and available to, all members of the public

"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.

That was from an international rules-based order, under “American hegemony,” which he said “helped provide public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security, and support for frameworks for resolving disputes.”

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Church-state separation is worth defending not necessarily because of the principle in and of itself, but because it helps protect public goods.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2025

But their contributions to various critical public goods are undeniable, and they left behind many institutions dedicated to many noble ends.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024

For decades, the public goods game has been a proven method to model social dilemmas.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

At all events, for a term of years, his personal prosperity depends upon the use he can make of his hold upon the public goods.

From An American Politician by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)