public issue

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A matter of general concern that affects many people and is often discussed in politics or the media.

   Grammar: Countable: a public issue, several public issues.

   Patterns

   • a public issue
   • raise a public issue
   • debate a public issue

   Climate change is a major public issue that governments must address.

   The mayor promised to treat housing as a public issue, not a private one.

   Education funding became a public issue during the election.

2. 2nouncountable

   A problem or topic that is open to everyone, not kept private or secret.

   Grammar: Often used when contrasting with private or personal matters.

   Patterns

   • make something a public issue
   • become a public issue

   She decided to make the company's safety record a public issue.

   The scandal became a public issue after the newspaper report.

Word forms

Common combinations

a matter of public issue

The treatment of refugees is a matter of public issue.

raise a public issue

The charity raised the public issue of food waste.

address a public issue

The council must address the public issue of air pollution.

public issue debate

The public issue debate lasted for three hours.

Synonyms and how they differ

public concern

Public concern emphasizes worry or anxiety, while public issue is a neutral term for any matter of general interest.

social issue

A social issue specifically relates to society and people's living conditions, whereas a public issue can be any matter affecting the public.

hot topic

Hot topic is informal and suggests something currently popular in discussion; public issue is more formal and lasting.

Opposites

Word family

public adjective

Relating to all people in a society.

publicly adverb

In a way that is open to everyone.

Commonly confused: public issue or publicity?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “public issue”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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