- [only before noun] connected with ordinary people in society in general
- The campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the issues.
- Levels of waste from the factory may be a danger to public health.
- Public safety must come first.
- Why would the closure of hospitals be in the public interest (= useful to ordinary people)?
- The government had to bow to public pressure.
- [only before noun] provided, especially by the government, for the use of people in general
- a public education system
- a public library
- [only before noun] connected with the government and the services it provides
- public money/spending/funding
- He spent much of his career in public office (= working in the government).
- (British English) the public purse (= the money that the government can spend)
- The rail industry is no longer in public ownership (= controlled by the government).
- known to people in general
- Details of the government report have not yet been made public.
- a public figure (= a person who is well known because they are often on the television, radio, etc.)
- She entered public life (= started a job in which she became known to the public) at the age of 25.
- This latest scandal will not have done their public image (= the opinion that people have of them) any good.
- open to people in general; intended to be seen or heard by people in general
- Face masks were to be worn in public places.
- A public meeting to discuss the issue will be held tomorrow night.
- The company was forced to issue a public apology.
- The painting will be put on public display next week.
- This may be the band's last public appearance together.
- The reception and other public areas have been refurbished.
- where there are a lot of people who can see and hear you
- Let's go somewhere a little less public.
of ordinary people
for everyone
of government
seen/heard by people
place
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, from Latin publicus, blend of poplicus ‘of the people’ (from populus ‘people’) and pubes ‘adult’.
Idioms
See public in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee public in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe common/public knowledge
- to be something that everyone knows, especially in a particular community or group
- Their relationship is common knowledge.
go public
- to tell people about something that is a secret
- A court order failed to stop her going public with the story.
- (of a company) to start selling shares on the stock exchange
in the public eye
- well known to many people through television, newspapers, the internet, etc.
- She doesn't want her children growing up in the public eye.
Check pronunciation:
public