public
Adjective:
- Relating to or affecting the people or community as a whole: "Public" describes something that involves, is provided by, or concerns all the people in a society or nation.
- Open to or shared by all people; not private: "Public" refers to things that are accessible to or used by everyone, as opposed to being restricted to a private group or individual.
- Known to many people; not secret: "Public" can describe information, knowledge, or figures that are widely known or exposed to general view.
Noun:
- The people as a whole; the community: "Public" refers to the general population or all the people in a society.
- A group of people with a shared interest or characteristic: "Public" can also denote a specific section of the population defined by a common activity or interest.
Adjective:
- Public health is a major government concern. (The health of the entire community is a primary issue for the government.)
- The park is a public space where everyone can relax. (The park is an area open and accessible to all people.)
- The details of the agreement are now public. (The information about the agreement is no longer secret and is known to many.)
Noun:
- The museum is open to the public every day. (The museum is accessible to all people each day.)
- The book appealed to a wide public. (The book was interesting to a large and diverse group of readers.)
"In public": in a place or situation open to view by people in general; not in private.
- She is very shy and rarely speaks in public. (She is uncomfortable speaking where many people can see and hear her.)
"Public figure": a person who is well-known, especially in areas like politics, entertainment, or sports.
- As a mayor, he became a public figure. (His role made him known to many people in the community.)
"Go public": (of a company) to start selling shares on the stock market; (more generally) to make something known to everyone.
- The tech startup decided to go public next year. (The company will offer its shares for public purchase.)
Publicly (adverb): in a public manner; openly.
- The company publicly apologized for the error. (The company made an open apology to everyone.)
Publicize (verb): to make something known to the public; to advertise.
- They hired a firm to publicize the new product. (They paid a company to tell people about the new item.)
Publican (noun): (British English) a person who owns or manages a pub.
- The publican greeted us at the door of the inn. (The owner of the pub welcomed us.)
- Adjective: communal, common, open, accessible, general, civic.
- Noun: populace, community, society, citizens, people, audience (for a specific group).
Public opinion: the views or beliefs held by the majority of people in a society.
- Politicians often pay attention to public opinion. (Leaders consider what most people think.)
Public service: a service provided by the government to its citizens, or work done for the benefit of the community.
- She dedicated her life to public service. (She worked for the good of the community.)
Wash your dirty linen in public: to discuss private or embarrassing matters openly.
- The family argued in court, washing their dirty linen in public. (The family publicly discussed their private problems.)
In the public eye: being watched and noticed by the public; famous.
- Celebrities live their lives in the public eye. (Famous people are constantly observed by the public.)
- affecting the people or community as a whole
- community leaders
- community interests
- the public welfare
- 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
- a body of people sharing some common interest
- the reading public
- people in general considered as a whole
- he is a hero in the eyes of the public