public Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
public definition

pub·lic (pub′lik)

adjective

  1. of, belonging to, or concerning the people as a whole; of or by the community at large the public welfare, a public outcry
  2. for the use or benefit of all; esp., supported by government funds a public park
  3. as regards community, rather than private, affairs
  4. acting in an official capacity on behalf of the people as a whole a public prosecutor
  5. known by, or open to the knowledge of, all or most people to make information public, a public figure
  6. Finance owned by shareholders whose shares can be freely traded, as on an exchange a public company

Etymology: ME < L publicus: altered (prob. infl. by pubes, adult) < poplicus, contr. of populicus, public < populus, the people

noun

  1. the people as a whole; community at large
  2. a specific part of the people; those people considered together because of some common interest or purpose the reading public
public Idioms

go public

  1. to become a publicly owned company by issuing shares for sale to the public
  2. to reveal something previously kept private or secret to the public

in public

openly; not in private or in secrecy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms public idiom

public Synonyms

public

modif.

  1. Open to the public

    free to all, without charge, unrestricted, not private, known; see also free 4.

  2. Owned by the public

    governmental, government, civil, civic, common, communal, publicly owned, municipal, metropolitan, state, federal, country, city, township, deeded in perpetuity.

    Antonyms private*, personal*, restricted.


public

n.

people, society, the community, populace, citizens, the nation; see also people 3.

in public

candidly, plainly, above board; see openly 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

public Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • inform: If ozone concentrations exceed 180 micrograms per cubic meter, they must inform the public and provide health advice.

Converse of subject

  • perceive: Despite the excellent safety record of Western reactor designs they are still perceived by the public as presenting risks to health and life.

Adjective modifier

  • general: ARP wardens were enlisted to help protect the general public during an air raid, for example, guiding people to the shelters.

Modifies a noun

  • transport: We advise students to use public transport or to arrive early.

Used with adjective complement

  • make: The Court's reasons have only just been made public.

Noun used with modifier

  • viewing: The exposure was good for the band, all bands in general, and for the viewing public.
public usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

public quotes

  One to mislead the public, another to mislead the Cabinet, and the third to mislead itself.

-Asquith

Private faces in public places Are wiser and nicer Than public faces in private places.

-Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

   I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.

-Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

public quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"public." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/public>

APA Style

public. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/public

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment