public company

American  

noun

British.

1. a company that has more than 50 shareholders and whose shares are offered for public subscription.

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public company British  

noun

1. a limited company whose shares may be purchased by the public and traded freely on the open market and whose share capital is not less than a statutory minimum; public limited company Compare private company

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public company Cultural  

1. A company that sells shares in itself to the public to raise capital. When a previously privately owned company offers shares, it is said to “go public.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public company

The stock is on pace for its largest percent increase since June 15, SpaceX’s first full day as a public company, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Shares were up 15.8% when the market closed on Friday, marking the stock’s largest one-day percentage increase since SpaceX’s first full day as a public company on June 15, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

“We are building AI compute capacity at scale faster than anyone else,” Musk said Tuesday on SpaceX’s first-ever quarterly call as a public company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

As Jersey Mike’s Subs wrapped up its first day as a public company, its CEO said the sandwich chain needs to do more to attract younger customers amid a tough stretch for the restaurant industry.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

It became a public company, and now it is no more.

From A Tale of One City: the New Birmingham Papers Reprinted from the "Midland Counties Herald" by Anderton, Thomas