public

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Open to or shared by all the people, not limited to a private group; often provided by the government.

   We spent the afternoon reading in the public library.

2. 2
   adj

   Relating to the people or community as a whole.

   The new tax laws caused a lot of public anger.

3. 3
   adj

   Done or seen openly, so that anyone can know about it.

   The actor made a public apology for his rude comments.

4. 4
   noun

   People in general, thought of as a whole group.

   The returning soldier was a hero in the eyes of the public.

5. 5
   noun

   A group of people who share a particular interest.

   This kind of article appeals to the reading public.

Common collocations

• public park Adjective + noun
• public place Adjective + noun
• general public Adjective + noun
• public building Adjective + noun
• public figure Adjective + noun
• public health Adjective + noun
• public service Adjective + noun
• address the public Verb + noun
• inform the public Verb + noun
• serve the public Verb + noun
• public hanging Adjective + noun
• public hearing Adjective + noun

The adjective and noun are derived from Late Middle English publik, publike (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public or public affairs; (noun) a generally observable place or situation”), from Anglo-Norman public, publik, publique, Middle French public, publique, and Old French public (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public; official; (noun) community or its members collectively; nation, state; audience, spectators collectively”) (modern French public, publique (obsolete)); and from their etymon Latin pūblicus (“of or belongi…

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