public interest
Americannoun
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the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth.
health programs that directly affect the public interest.
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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.
Emphasising that parliament was the source of checks and balances, he said that "we will vote for laws that are in the public interest and reject those that are not".
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Mesaglio supports expanding these kinds of programs, both because they improve scientific access to remote or private areas and because they help build public interest in conservation.
From Science Daily • May 18, 2026
"Public ownership is in the public interest", the prime minister said in a speech.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Roy has said she wants to turn the office into “the largest public interest law firm in the city,” targeting wage theft, tenant harassment and other issues impacting working-class Angelenos.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
When radio broadcasts of recorded music began from 1920 onwards, public interest in having one’s own record collection accelerated; what had been a trickle turned into a flood.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
