publicity

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the quality of being open to public view

   the publicity of the court room

2. 2
   noun

   Advertising or other activity designed to rouse public interest in something.

   A gay man accused of disorderly conduct for posting publicity for a Boston gay event was found not guilty in Cambridge District Court on July 22.

3. 3
   noun

   Public interest attracted in this way.

   Any publicity, runs the axiom, is good publicity.

4. 4
   noun

   The quality of being public, not private.

   Amelia's gentle eyes, too, had been fixed anxiously on the pair, whose conduct had so chafed the jealous General; but when Rebecca entered her box, she flew to her friend with an affectionate rapture which showed itself, in spite of the publicity of the place; for she embraced her dearest friend in the presence of the whole house, at least in full view of the General's glass, now brought to bear upon the Osborne party.

5. 5
   noun

   a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution

6. 6
   noun

   The condition of being the object of public attention.

Etymology

From French publicité, From Medieval Latin pūblicitātem, accusative singular of pūblicitās, from Latin pūblicus (“public, general”). Morphologically public + -ity.