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public

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌblɪk/
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Definition of public

adjective

  • 1of or concerning the people as a whole:public concern public affairs
  • open to or shared by all the people of an area or country:a public library
  • of or involved in the affairs of the community, especially in government or entertainment:he was forced to withdraw from public life a public figure
  • 2done, perceived, or existing in open view:he wanted a public apology in the Wall Street Journal we should talk somewhere less public
  • 3of or provided by the state rather than an independent, commercial company:public spending public services
  • 4British of, for, or acting for a university:public examination results

noun

  • 1 (the public) [treated as singular or plural] ordinary people in general; the community:the library is open to the public the general public have a right to know
  • [with adjective or noun modifier] a section of the community having a particular interest or connection:the reading public
  • (one's public) informal the people who watch or are interested in an artist, writer, or performer:some famous last words to give my public

Phrases

go public

  • 1become a public company: the company’s share price has nearly quadrupled since it went public
  • 2reveal details about a previously private concern:Bates went public with the news at a press conference

in public

in view of other people; when others are present:men don’t cry in public

the public eye

the state of being known or of interest to people in general, especially through the media:the pressures of being constantly in the public eye

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin publicus, blend of poplicus 'of the people' (from populus 'people') and pubes 'adult'

public in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of public in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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