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.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Public comes from Latin publicus and is related to people. The same Latin root is shared by publish, originally “to make public,” and republic, from Latin res public, “the business of the people.”

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…

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary