public

PUB-lik/ˈpʌblɪk/

Noun pluralpublics

21 meanings of public

1
used by alladjective
Open to everyone in a community, and often paid for by the government with tax money.
Like a playground that any child in town can come and play on.
The town built a new public library near the school.
Public parks are free for everyone to use.
UsageIn the US, a public school is free. In England, it is usually a private school.
Similarstate, municipal
Oppositeprivate
2
the peoplenouncountable or uncountable
All the people in a community, or people in society in general.
Like all the people in a town counted as one big group.
The museum is open to the public every day.
The public has a right to know how the money was spent.
UsageSay the public or members of the public.
Similarpeople, populace, community
3
adjective
Run or paid for by the government for the whole community, not by a private business.
Like a fire department that the whole town pays for together.
She spent her career in public service, working for the city.
Public spending on roads increased this year.
Similarstate, municipal
Oppositeprivate
4
adjective
Having to do with all the people in a community or country, not just a few.
Like a decision that affects everyone in the country, not just one family.
Public opinion turned against the new tax.
The plan became a matter of public interest.
UsageSay public opinion or public health.
Similargeneral, common, collective
Oppositeprivate, individual
5
adjective
Known by or shown to everyone, not kept secret.
Like a sign in a window that anyone walking by can read.
Their argument became public when someone posted the video online.
The mayor made a public apology in front of the cameras.
UsageMake it public means let everyone know.
Similarknown, open, overt
Oppositeprivate, secret, hidden, confidential
Note
6
where seennoununcountable
A situation where other people are around to see what you do.
Like standing on a stage where everyone can watch you.
He was too shy to sing in public.
They rarely showed affection in public.
UsageSay in public: he sings in public.
Note
7
adjective
Having to do with someone's official or working life, not their private life.
Like the face an actor shows on stage instead of at home.
She keeps her public life separate from her family.
The senator's public image matters a lot to voters.
Similarofficial, professional
Oppositeprivate, personal
8
on stock marketadjective
Of a company, having shares that anyone can buy and sell on the stock market.
Like a shop that sells small pieces of itself to anyone who wants to own part of it.
The startup went public last year and is now listed on the exchange.
Public companies must report their earnings to shareholders.
UsageA company goes public when anyone can buy its shares.
Similarlisted
Oppositeprivate
Note
9
common goodadjective
Wanting to help the whole community, not just yourself.
Like a neighbor who clears everyone's sidewalk, not just their own.
Her public spirit led her to volunteer at the shelter every weekend.
Napoleon had been the first man of the world, if his ends had been purely public.
1850, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Napoleon; or, The Man of the World”Here, public means aimed at the good of the whole community.
Note

Less common meanings

10
fansnouncountable or uncountable
The group of fans or followers who support a performer or writer.
Like the crowd of fans who come to every game to cheer one team.
The singer thanked her public after the final show.
Authors owe a lot to their loyal public.
Similaraudience, following, readership
Note
11
adjective
Famous and well-known, especially someone often seen in the news.
Like a famous actor whom strangers recognize on the street.
As a public figure, the mayor was recognized everywhere she went.
Becoming a public figure meant reporters followed his every move.
Note
12
population segmentnouncountable or uncountable
A group of people who share an interest or something in common, like readers or voters.
Like sorting a big crowd into smaller groups who like the same things.
The campaign was designed to reach a younger public.
Museums try to serve many different publics at once.
UsageOften with a word in front: the buying public, the traveling public.
Similaraudience, community, constituency
Note
13
barnouncolloquialUKcountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis
Short for public house or public bar: a pub, or the simple, cheaper bar room inside one.
Grandad always drank in the public, never in the lounge.
The beer was cheaper in the public than in the lounge.
Note
14
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
The whole body of people who make up a nation, or the good of that nation.
Note
15
verbarchaictransitive
To make something known to many people, or share it widely.
[H]e is such a barefooted rubber with my supersocks pulled over his face which I publicked in my bestback garden for the laetification of siderodromites and to the irony of the stars.
1939, James Joyce, Finnegans WakeHere, publicked means made public or put on display for everyone.
Note
16
adjectivearchaic
Having to do with many nations together, not just one country.
Note
17
adjectiveobsolete
Shared by all human beings and common to everyone.
In Iron Clouds conceal'd the Publick Light: / And Impious Mortals fear'd Eternal Night.
1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”Here, Publick means shared by all people everywhere.
In the squares and places you see half-a-dozen of them together, sitting in a social circle on the bottoms of upturned baskets, knitting, talking, and enjoying the public sunshine, as if it were their own household fire.
1858, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Mediterranean Sea”Here, public means shared by everyone, belonging to all people.
Note
18
nounobsoleteUScountable or uncountable
At Harvard long ago, a punishment that lowered a student's grade and was reported to their parents.
Note
19
adjective
In programming, able to be used by any part of a program, not just one class.
20
nounnonstandard
A public page or channel on social media that shares news with its followers.
21
adjectiveUK
Belonging to the whole university, not to a single college or person inside it.
I meruailled, why himſelf [Niccolò Leoniceno] did not practiſe Phiſike of whiche facultee he was a Doctour, and a publique reader: I auaile moche more, ſaieth he, in that I teach all thother Phiſiciãs [physicians].
1564, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Socrates”Here, publique means belonging to the whole university, not one college.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin pūblicus, meaning "belonging to the people or state," which came through Old French and Middle English. It is related to the word people.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Public derives from Latin pūblicus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin pūblicus means belonging to the people or state. en.wiktionary.org
The word passed through Old French and Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Public is etymologically related to people. en.wiktionary.org