public

[ puhb-lik ]

/ ˈpʌb lɪk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR public ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole: public funds; a public nuisance.

done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole: public prosecution.

open to all persons: a public meeting.

of, relating to, or being in the service of a community or nation, especially as a government officer: a public official.

maintained at the public expense and under public control: a public library; a public road.

generally known: The fact became public.

familiar to the public; prominent: public figures.

open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public: a public dispute.

pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community: public spirit.

of or relating to all humankind; universal.

noun

the people constituting a community, state, or nation.

a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc.: the book-buying public.

British Informal. a tavern; public house.

Idioms for public

go public,

to issue stock for sale to the general public.
to present private or previously concealed information, news, etc., to the public; make matters open to public view: The senator threatened to go public with his congressional-reform plan.

in public, not in private; in a situation open to public view or access; publicly: It was the first time that she had sung in public.

make public, to cause to become known generally, as through the news media: Her resignation was made public this morning.

Origin of public

1400–50; < Latin pūblicus (earlier pōblicus, pōplicus, akin to populus people); replacing late Middle English publique < Middle French < Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM public

non·pub·lic, adjective qua·si-pub·lic, adjective qua·si-pub·lic·ly, adverb un·pub·lic, adjective

un·pub·lic·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH public

pubic public

Words nearby public

pubic region, pubic symphysis, pubiotomy, pubis, publ., public, public access, public accountant, public act, public administration, public administrator

British Dictionary definitions for in public

public

/ (ˈpʌblɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, or concerning the people as a whole

open or accessible to all public gardens

performed or made openly or in the view of all public proclamation

(prenominal) well-known or familiar to people in general a public figure

(usually prenominal) maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community a public library

open, acknowledged, or notorious a public scandal

go public

(of a private company) to issue shares for subscription by the public
to reveal publicly hitherto confidential information

noun

the community or people in general

a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc the racing public

Word Origin for public

C15: from Latin pūblicus, changed from pōplicus of the people, from populus people

Idioms and Phrases with in public (1 of 2)

in public

Openly, open to public view or access. For example, They've never appeared together in public. [c. 1450] For an antonym, see in private.

Idioms and Phrases with in public (2 of 2)

public

see go public; in public; in the public eye; John Doe (Q. Public); wash one's dirty linen in public.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

public

adjective

noun

Idioms for public

Origin of public

OTHER WORDS FROM public

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH public

Words nearby public

British Dictionary definitions for in public

adjective

noun

Word Origin for public

Idioms and Phrases with in public (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with in public (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

public

adjective

noun

Idioms for public

Origin of public

OTHER WORDS FROM public

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH public

Words nearby public

Words related to in public

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adjective

noun

Word Origin for public

Idioms and Phrases with in public (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with in public (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for in public