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Synonyms

publicly

American  
[puhb-lik-lee] / ˈpʌb lɪk li /

adverb

  1. in a public or open manner or place.

  2. by the public.

  3. in the name of the community.

  4. by public action or consent.

publicly British  
/ ˈpʌblɪklɪ /

adverb

  1. in a public manner; without concealment; openly

  2. in the name or with the consent of the public

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of publicly

First recorded in 1925–30; public + -ly

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.

Early in 2024, Péter Magyar, then an official in Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s governing Fidesz party, publicly left Fidesz and assumed leadership of a minor party.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

There was no fraud, just human error — which would soon be publicly confirmed through a hand count of the county’s ballots.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Stokes and McCullum publicly backed each other at the end of the Ashes, but by that time had given differing messages to the media, fuelling suggestions of a rift.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The federal health minister, however, has confirmed publicly that the outbreak of 84 cases was triggered by the reuse of contaminated syringes at the hospital.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

“No one calls it anything publicly yet,” Collins said.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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.