Definitions for public
ˈpʌb lɪkpub·lic

Princeton's WordNet(3.86 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. populace, public, worldnoun

   people in general considered as a whole

   "he is a hero in the eyes of the public"

2. publicadjective

   a body of people sharing some common interest

   "the reading public"

3. publicadjective

   not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole

   "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures"

4. publicadjective

   affecting the people or community as a whole

   "community leaders"; "community interests"; "the public welfare"

Wiktionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. publicnoun

   The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.

   Members of the public may not proceed beyond this point.

   Etymology: From publik, public, public, publique et al., and their source, publicus, alteration (probably after pubes) of populicus, from populus. Compare people.

2. publicadjective

   Able to be seen or known by everyone; open to general view, happening without concealment.

   Etymology: From publik, public, public, publique et al., and their source, publicus, alteration (probably after pubes) of populicus, from populus. Compare people.

3. publicadjective

   Pertaining to all the people as a whole (as opposed a private group); concerning the whole country, community etc.

   Etymology: From publik, public, public, publique et al., and their source, publicus, alteration (probably after pubes) of populicus, from populus. Compare people.

4. publicadjective

   Officially representing the community; carried out or funded by the state on behalf of the community.

   Etymology: From publik, public, public, publique et al., and their source, publicus, alteration (probably after pubes) of populicus, from populus. Compare people.

5. publicadjective

   Open to all members of a community; especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.

   Etymology: From publik, public, public, publique et al., and their source, publicus, alteration (probably after pubes) of populicus, from populus. Compare people.

6. publicadjective

   Traded publicly via a stock market.

   Etymology: From publik, public, public, publique et al., and their source, publicus, alteration (probably after pubes) of populicus, from populus. Compare people.

Webster Dictionary(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Publicadjective

   of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury

   Etymology: [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]

2. Publicadjective

   open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal

   Etymology: [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]

3. Publicadjective

   open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house

   Etymology: [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]

4. Publicnoun

   the general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American public; also, a particular body or aggregation of people; as, an author's public

   Etymology: [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]

5. Publicnoun

   a public house; an inn

   Etymology: [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]

Freebase(2.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Public

   In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the Öffentlichkeit or public sphere. The concept of a public has also been defined in political science, psychology, marketing, and advertising. In public relations and communication science, it is one of the more ambiguous concepts in the field. Although it has definitions in the theory of the field that have been formulated from the early 20th century onwards, it has suffered in more recent years from being blurred, as a result of conflation of the idea of a public with the notions of audience, market segment, community, constituency, and stakeholder. The name "public" originates with the Latin "populus" or "poplicus", and in general denotes some mass population in association with some matter of common interest. So in political science and history, a public is a population of individuals in association with civic affairs, or affairs of office or state. In social psychology, marketing, and public relations, a public has a more situational definition. John Dewey defined a public as a group of people who, in facing a similar problem, recognize it and organize themselves to address it. Dewey's definition of a public is thus situational: people organized about a situation. Built upon this situational definition of a public is the situational theory of publics by James E. Grunig, which talks of nonpublics, latent publics, aware publics, and active publics.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Public

   pub′lik, adj. of or belonging to the people: pertaining to a community or a nation: general: common to or shared in by all: generally known.—n. the people: the general body of mankind: the people, indefinitely: a public-house, tavern.—ns. Pub′lican, the keeper of an inn or public-house: (orig.) a farmer-general of the Roman taxes: a tax-collector; Publicā′tion, the act of publishing or making public: a proclamation: the act of printing and sending out for sale, as a book: that which is published as a book, &c.—ns.pl. Pub′lic-bills, -laws, &c., bills, laws, &c. which concern the interests of the whole people; Pub′lic-funds, money lent to government for which interest is paid of a stated amount at a stated time.—ns. Pub′lic-house, a house open to the public: one chiefly used for selling beer and other liquors: an inn or tavern; Pub′lic-institū′tion, an institution kept up by public funds for the public use, as an educational or charitable foundation; Pub′licist, one who writes on or is skilled in public law, or on current political topics; Public′ity, the state of being public or open to the knowledge of all: notoriety; Pub′lic-law (see International).—adv. Pub′licly.—adjs. Pub′lic-mind′ed, -spir′ited, having a spirit actuated by regard to the public interest: with a regard to the public interest.—ns. Pub′licness; Pub′lic-opin′ion, the view which the people of a district or county take of any question of public interest; Pub′lic-pol′icy, the main principles or spirit upon which the law of a country is constructed; Pub′lic-spir′it, a strong desire and effort to work on behalf of the public interest.—adv. Pub′lic-spir′itedly.—n. Pub′lic-spir′itedness.—n.pl. Pub′lic-works, permanent works or improvements made for public use or benefit.—Public health, the department in any government, municipality, &c. which superintends sanitation; Public holiday, a general holiday ordained by parliament; Public lands, lands belonging to government, esp. such as are open to sale, grant, &c.; Public orator, an officer of English universities who is the voice of the Senate upon all public occasions; Public school (see School).—In public, in open view. [Fr.,—L. publicus—populus, the people.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. public

   Accessible to people.

   Members of the public can choose to either have their online profiles public or private.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 24, 2020  

2. public

   The population of a country.

   The public have a right to have a say in the running of their country - democracy is a form of power to the people i.e. the public.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 5, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • People

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'public' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #286

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'public' in Written Corpus Frequency: #806

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'public' in Nouns Frequency: #470

4. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'public' in Adjectives Frequency: #29

How to pronounce public?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say public in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of public in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of public in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of public in a Sentence

1. Patrick Henry:

   Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings give us that precious jewel, and you may take every thing else! Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.

2. Lucas Romero:

   Of course, The SenatePolls can't dismiss the role of public opinion and the pressure that approval in the lower house could bring, those could both be factors that could change the scenario in the Senate,... but for now it remains very uncertain.

3. Constable Nick Lingham:

   It is clear those responsible would have needed a large vehicle such as a flatbed truck and may have also needed to lift it by mechanical means, it is a hugely distinctive object and it is unlikely the offenders will find it that easy to sell on as scrap or to a collector. Because of its sheer size Police Constable Nick Lingham are hoping people may have seen it being transported and also asking members of the public to keep their eyes open and report anything suspicious.

4. Miguel Osorio Chong:

   Blockades and public damage must end, therefore, soon, we will be taking necessary decisions to allow traffic on strategic routes and supplies for communities.

5. Ricky Rosselló Renuncia:

   I have the commitment, stronger than ever, to carry out the public policy.

Images & Illustrations of public

Popularity rank by frequency of use