1
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting all the people or the whole area of a nation or state
public law
b
: of or relating to a government
c
: of, relating to, or being in the service of the community or nation
3
a
: of or relating to people in general : universal
b
: of, by, for, or directed to the public (see public entry 2 sense 2) : popular
in the public eye
a campaign to raise public awareness of the issue
He's certainly aware that public opinion has soured on him this year …—
Bryan Rolli
Bryan Rolli4
: of or relating to business or community interests as opposed to private affairs : social
5
: devoted to the general or national welfare : humanitarian
6
a
: accessible to or shared by all members of the community
b
: capitalized in shares that can be freely traded on the open market
—often used with go
7
: supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by income from commercials
public radio
public television
publicness
noun
plural publics
1
: a place accessible or visible to the public
—usually used in the phrase in public
2
: the people as a whole : populace
3
: a group of people having common interests or characteristics
specifically
: the group at which a particular activity or enterprise aims
Synonyms
Examples of public in a Sentence
Adjective
Public outrage over the scandal eventually forced him to resign.
The ads are intended to increase public awareness of the risks of smoking.
She was elected to a public office.
He was in Congress for many years but he recently retired from public life.
They decided on a nearby restaurant as a convenient public place to meet.
The government has allowed public access to the documents.
The city council is holding a public meeting.
This will be her first public performance in five years.
Her trial will be public.
Noun
The beach is open to the public.
The general public is in favor of the law.
Members of the public called for the mayor's resignation.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Frank, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
As a public official, Burchett should have known and done better.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Other spikes in reports of suspicious bags or items happen in the wake of a major incident, such as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, when authorities were inundated by reports from the newly vigilant public.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for public 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
State of play: More than half of the top 10 headlines from Axios Denver this year focused on public officials or elections.
—John Frank, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
As a public official, Burchett should have known and done better.
—David Plazas, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
By now Francis' annual Christmas address to the priests, bishops and cardinals who work in the Vatican Curia has become a lesson in humility — and humiliation — as Francis offers a public dressing down of some of the sins in the workplace at the headquarters of the Catholic Church.
—CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Other spikes in reports of suspicious bags or items happen in the wake of a major incident, such as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, when authorities were inundated by reports from the newly vigilant public.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for public
Dictionary Entries Near public
Cite this Entry
“Public.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
public
1 of 2 adjective
pub·lic
ˈpəb-lik 
1
a
: of, relating to, belonging to, or affecting all the people
public law
b
: provided by the government
public education
c
: relating to or engaged in the service of the community or nation
public life
2
: of or relating to community interests as opposed to private affairs
a radio program in the public interest
3
: devoted to the general welfare
needed leaders with public spirit
4
: open to or shared by all
a public meeting
the public library
5
a
: generally known
the story became public
b
: well-known
a public figure
6
: supported by income from public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials
public television
publicly
adverb
public
2 of 2 noun1
: a place open or visible to people
seen in public
2
: the people as a whole
a lecture open to the public
3
: a particular group of people
a writer's public
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