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Meaning & use

public

adjective, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈpʌblɪk/
US/ˈpʌblɪk/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Open to, used by or available to everyone, not limited to one person or group.

    Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: public library, public park.

    Patterns

    • open to the public

    The city built a public library near the station.

    The beach is public, so anyone can swim there.

    Public transport is cheaper than driving.

  2. nounsingular

    Ordinary people in general, as a group.

    Grammar: With the, it can take a singular or plural verb: the public is/are invited.

    Patterns

    • the public
    • in public

    The museum is open to the public on weekends.

    The public was warned to stay indoors.

    Police asked the public for help finding the missing boy.

  3. adjectivecomparable

    Known or seen by many people, not secret.

    Grammar: Used for things that are known openly: public knowledge.

    Patterns

    • go public
    • make something public

    The couple kept their relationship public.

    Her resignation became public on Monday.

    The mayor made the report public.

  4. adjectivebefore a nounAmerican

    Paid for, run or controlled by the government rather than by private owners.

    Grammar: Contrasts with private: public schools, public funds (in the US and many places).

    Patterns

    • public school
    • public funds

    She teaches at a public school.

    Public money paid for the new bridge.

    The public sector employs thousands of nurses.

Word forms

comparativemore public
superlativemost public

Common combinations

public opinion
Public opinion turned against the plan.
public transport
I go to work by public transport.
in public
He hates speaking in public.
public health
Public health officials issued a warning.
go public
The company plans to go public next year.
general public
The exhibit is open to the general public.

Synonyms and how they differ

communal
Communal suggests sharing among a smaller group, while public means open to everyone.
open
Open means not closed or restricted, but does not suggest government or community ownership.
common
Common suggests shared by everyone, and is often used about land or knowledge, while public is wider.
civic
Civic relates to a town or its citizens, whereas public is more general.

Opposites

privatesecretpersonal

Word family

publicly adverb
in front of people or openly
publicity noun
attention from the media
publicize verb
to make known to the public
publication noun
a book or magazine, or the act of publishing
publish verb
to prepare and issue for sale or sharing

Commonly confused: public or pubic? public or public school?

public vs pubic

Pubic relates to the lower part of the body and is spelled without a l. Be careful not to drop the l in public.

public vs public school

In the US a public school is free and run by the state, but in Britain a public school is an expensive private one.

Practice

The council made the report ___, so everyone could read it online.

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