public interest
Americannoun
-
the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth.
health programs that directly affect the public interest.
-
appeal or relevance to the general populace.
a news story of public interest.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of public interest
First recorded in 1670–80
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's really incredible to see and to have the level of public interest," said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's worldwide head of science and natural history.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Supporters countered that an event of this magnitude required exceptional security given Swift’s global profile and the intense public interest surrounding the couple.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
"We are not against foreign investment, we are for dignity, respect, and transparency, and against the current model that is harmful to the public interest," she told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
“There is public interest in this information so there’s definitely huge value in that,” Milin said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
But its administration was utterly unable to reconcile its responsibilities as a disinterested servant of the public interest and those of an owner of a commercially valuable patent.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
