public relations

American  

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.

2. (used with a singular verb) the art, technique, or profession of promoting such goodwill.

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public relations British  

noun

1. 1. the practice of creating, promoting, or maintaining goodwill and a favourable image among the public towards an institution, public body, etc

   2. the methods and techniques employed

   3. ( as modifier )

      the public relations industry

2. the condition of the relationship between an organization and the public

3. the professional staff employed to create, promote, or maintain a favourable relationship between an organization and the public

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Etymology

Origin of public relations

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

The legal source said his alleged role was to be that of a public relations operative who would use his media links and film content to win public support for the military takeover.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Orange-industry groups hired medical professionals as spokespeople in public relations, and kicked off an emergency ad campaign addressing what they branded “juice confusion.”

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

More-powerful AI chips need water to cool them, and managing that increasingly scarce resource is now mission-critical for any hyperscaler that wants to maintain good public relations and be a reasonable steward of the environment.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Jef I. Richards is a professor emeritus of advertising and public relations at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

And I became a public relations man for General Electric in Schenectady, New York, and a volunteer fireman in the village of Alplaus, where I bought my first home.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut