Definition of public Public

/pʌˈblɪk/ - [publik] - pub•lic

We found 20 definitions of public from 7 different sources.

What does public mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: publics
public - a body of people sharing some common interest; "the reading public"
public - people in general considered as a whole; "he is a hero in the eyes of the public"
		populace, world
		people members of a family line; "his people have been farmers for generations"; "are your people still alive?"
		admass the segment of the public that is easily influenced by mass media (chiefly British)
Adjective public, publiccer, publiccest
public - 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"
		private concerning things deeply private and personal; "private correspondence"; "private family matters"
		exoteric suitable for the general public; "writings of an exoteric nature"
		overt, open open and observable; not secret or hidden; "an overt lie"; "overt hostility"; "overt intelligence gathering"; "open ballots"
		in the public eye of great interest to the public; "a person in the public eye"
		national concerned with or applicable to or belonging to an entire nation or country; "the national government"; "national elections"; "of national concern"; "the national highway system"; "national forests"
		open ready for business; "the stores are open"
		semipublic having some of the features of public institution
		state-supported supported and operated by the government of a state; "a state university"
public - affecting the people or community as a whole; "community leaders"; "community interests"; "the public welfare"

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Wiktionary

public (Noun)
The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.
public (Adjective)
Able to be seen or known by everyone; open to general view, happening without concealment.
public (Adjective)
Pertaining to all the people as a whole as opposed a private group; concerning the whole country, community etc.
public (Adjective)
Officially representing the community; carried out or funded by the state on behalf of the community.
public (Adjective)
Open to all members of a community; especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.
public (Adjective)
Traded publicly via a stock market .

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

public (a.)
Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury.
public (a.)
Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
public (a.)
Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house.
public (n.)
The general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American public; also, a particular body or aggregation of people; as, an author's public.
public (n.)
A public house; an inn.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

public
The community or people in general or a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest or activity.\n(Source: CED)
public
Open to all persons.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

public
pub′lik, adj. of or belonging to the people: pertaining to a community or a nation: general: common to or shared in by all: generally known.—n. the people: the general body of mankind: the people, indefinitely: a public-house, tavern.—ns. Pub′lican, the keeper of an inn or public-house: (orig.) a farmer-general of the Roman taxes: a tax-collector; Publicā′tion, the act of publishing or making public: a proclamation: the act of printing and sending out for sale, as a book: that which is published as a book, &c.—ns.pl. Pub′lic-bills, -laws, &c., bills, laws, &c. which concern the interests of the whole people; Pub′lic-funds, money lent to government for which interest is paid of a stated amount at a stated time.—ns. Pub′lic-house, a house open to the public: one chiefly used for selling beer and other liquors: an inn or tavern; Pub′lic-institū′tion, an institution kept up by public funds for the public use, as an educational or charitable foundation; Pub′licist, one who writes on or is skilled in public law, or on current political topics; Public′ity, the state of being public or open to the knowledge of all: notoriety; Pub′lic-law (see International).—adv. Pub′licly.—adjs. Pub′lic-mind′ed, -spir′ited, having a spirit actuated by regard to the public interest: with a regard to the public interest.—ns. Pub′licness; Pub′lic-opin′ion, the view which the people of a district or county take of any question of public interest; Pub′lic-pol′icy, the main principles or spirit upon which the law of a country is constructed; Pub′lic-spir′it, a strong desire and effort to work on behalf of the public interest.—adv. Pub′lic-spir′itedly.—n. Pub′lic-spir′itedness.—n.pl. Pub′lic-works, permanent works or improvements made for public use or benefit.—Public health, the department in any government, municipality, &c. which superintends sanitation; Public holiday, a general holiday ordained by parliament; Public lands, lands belonging to government, esp. such as are open to sale, grant, &c.; Public orator, an officer of English universities who is the voice of the Senate upon all public occasions; Public school (see School).—In public, in open view. [Fr.,—L. publicus—populus, the people.]