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.
-
appeal or relevance to the general populace.
a news story of public interest.
Other Word Forms
- public-interest adjective
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.
The harder she tried to cover up the Epstein files, the more public interest in them grew.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
"Public media exists to serve the public interest -- that of Americans -- not that of any political agenda or elected official," it said in a statement.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Dan Wall, Live Nation’s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, said the settlement was in the public interest and included most of what Slater had sought.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS special crime division, said there was "sufficient evidence to bring this case to court" and it was "in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings".
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
Even more palpably, the fullest expression of his best energies always occurred when the long-term public interest, as he understood it, clashed with the political imperatives of the moment.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
