public service

American  

noun

1. the business of supplying an essential commodity, as gas or electricity, or a service, as transportation, to the general public.

2. government employment; civil service.

3. a service to the public rendered without charge by a profit-making organization.

   This radio program has been brought to you as a public service.

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public service British  

noun

1. 1. government employment

   2. the management and administration of the affairs of a political unit, esp the civil service

2. 1. a service provided for the community

      buses provide a public service

   2. ( as modifier )

      a public-service announcement

3. British equivalent: civil service.  the service responsible for the public administration of the government of a country. It excludes the legislative, judicial, and military branches. Members of the public service have no official political allegiance and are not generally affected by changes of governments

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Etymology

Origin of public service

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

But as investors digest the weekend news, there appears to be some comfort being derived from Powell’s comments about public service sometimes requiring “standing firm in the face of threats.”

From MarketWatch

It's hard to find any public service that's not finding budgets are tight.

From BBC

His party is calling for £900m in tax cuts, which he argued would grow the economy and help to maintain public services in Scotland.

From BBC

"This is entirely unacceptable. This afternoon, I chaired a further meeting with the water companies and local resilience forums to restore supplies as quickly as possible, prioritising vulnerable customers and essential public services."

From BBC

He added that voters would judge the government at the next election on whether they had delivered improvements to public services and the NHS.

From BBC

Related Words

• civil service