Public
WordNet
adjective
(1) Affecting the people or community as a whole
"Community leaders"
"Community interests"
"The public welfare"
(2) 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"
noun
(3) A body of people sharing some common interest
"The reading public"
(4) People in general considered as a whole
"He is a hero in the eyes of the public"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From < , contr. from } < ; see people.
Adjective
- Pertaining to the affairs or official affairs of all people, not just those of a private group; contrasted with private.
- Open to all.
- Funded by the government.
- Traded publicly via a stock market.
Related terms
- people
- population
- publican
- publication
- publicise, publicize
- publicist
- publicity
- publish
- republic
Noun
- The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.
- Members of the public may not proceed beyond this point.
- 2007 May 4, Martin Jacques, The Guardian
- Bush and Blair stand condemned by their own publics and face imminent political extinction.
Usage notes
- Although generally considered uncountable, this noun does also have countable useage, as in the citation above.