You can refer to people in general, or to all the people in a particular country or community,as the public.
Lauderdale House is now open to the public.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on July 1st.
Trade unions are regarding the poll as a test of the public's confidence in the government.
Synonyms: people, society, country, population More Synonyms of public
2. singular noun [with singular or plural verb]
You can refer to a set of people in a country who share a common interest, activity, or characteristic as a particular kind of public.
Market research showed that 93% of the viewing public wanted a hit film channel.
...the American voting public.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Public means relating to all the people in a country or community.
The President is attempting to drum up public support for his economic program.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Public means relating to the government or state, or things that are done for the peopleby the state.
The social services account for a substantial part of public spending.
Synonyms: civic, government, state, national More Synonyms of public
publiclyadverb [ADVERB -ed]
...publicly funded legal services.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Public buildings and services are provided for everyone to use.
...the New York Public Library.
The new museum must be accessible by public transport.
...a public health service available to all.
6. adjective
A public place is one where people can go about freely and where you can easily be seen and heard.
...the heavily congested public areas of international airports.
I avoid working in places which are too public.
7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If someone is a public figure or in public life, many people know who they are because they are often mentioned in newspapers and on television.
The archbishop hit out at public figures who commit adultery.
I'd like to see more women in public life, especially Parliament.
Synonyms: well-known, leading, important, respected More Synonyms of public
8. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Public is used to describe statements, actions, and events that are made or done in such a way that any member of the publiccan see them or be aware of them.
The National Heritage Committee has conducted a public inquiry to find the answer.
The comments were the ministry's first detailed public statement on the subject.
Marilyn made her last public appearance at Madison Square Garden.
publiclyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
He never spoke publicly about the affair.
Every move the President makes is publicly discussed as openly as possible.
9. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If a fact is made public or becomes public, it becomes known to everyone rather than being kept secret.
His will, made public yesterday, showed that he had amassed an estate with a networth of £1,980,133.
The facts could cause embarrassment if they ever became public.
10.
See the public eye
11.
See go public
12.
See in public
13. to wash your dirty linen in public
More Synonyms of public
public in British English
(ˈpʌblɪk)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or concerning the people as a whole
2.
open or accessible to all
public gardens
3.
performed or made openly or in the view of all
public proclamation
4. (prenominal)
well-known or familiar to people in general
a public figure
5. (usually prenominal)
maintained at the expense of, serving, or for the use of a community
a public library
6.
open, acknowledged, or notorious
a public scandal
7. go public
noun
8.
the community or people in general
9.
a part or section of the community grouped because of a common interest, activity, etc
the racing public
Word origin
C15: from Latin pūblicus, changed from pōplicus of the people, from populus people
public in American English
(ˈpʌblɪk)
adjective
1.
of, belonging to, or concerning the people as a whole; of or by the community atlarge
the public welfare, a public outcry
2.
for the use or benefit of all; esp., supported by government funds
a public park
3.
as regards community, rather than private, affairs
4.
acting in an official capacity on behalf of the people as a whole
a public prosecutor
5.
known by, or open to the knowledge of, all or most people
to make information public, a public figure
6. Finance
owned by shareholders whose shares can be freely traded, as on an exchange
a public company
noun
7.
the people as a whole; community at large
8.
a specific part of the people; those people considered together because of some common interestor purpose
the reading public
Idioms:
go public
in public
Word origin
ME < L publicus: altered (prob. infl. by pubes, adult) < poplicus, contr. of populicus, public < populus, the people
More idioms containing
public
be in the public eye
wash your dirty linen in public
COBUILD Collocations
public
alert the public
concern the public
confuse the public
engage the public
inform the public
persuade the public
reassure the public
remind the public
sceptical public
serve the public
sporting public
thank the public
the public are interested
the public are ready
the wider public
to convince the public that
urge the public
warn the public
Examples of 'public' in a sentence
public
It is in talks with public sector organisations to reach rural areas.
Computing (2010)
This is why our honours system is discredited and the public has no confidence in it.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Was it partly about finding an identity while growing up in the public eye?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We judge public figures with mental health problems by entirely the wrong standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We hope that his promises of future public service are not empty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is bad for prisoners and the public.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their job is to work on the dance quality and the public have their say.
The Sun (2016)
It is unrealistic to expect the young and naive to feel more responsibility for public expenditure than government does.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The public sector is crying out for reform.
The Sun (2009)
My report stressed the importance of retaining the public interest defence to the existing crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They also include the public figures who would prefer their hypocrisy to remain unexposed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
My only concern is that any government would spend public resources in that way.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The majority said that areas of the country with higher public sector unemployment were suffering most.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They have set the standard for what the racing public should expect.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We need to have a system the public have confidence in.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That space on the top has a chance to be a new public space again.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It will then be sold to the general public from early next month.
The Sun (2013)
What the public pay to see is drivers coming sixth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The only practical remedy is to ban smoking in public places.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Being a big public company used to aid financial strength and continuity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We have to go public with the gospel.
Christianity Today (2000)
Until a fortnight ago there were no signs warning the public about the isolation ward.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The charge was one of offending public decency.
Geraghty, Tony The Bullet Catchers (1989)
The château itself is open to the public and houses a museum of motorcycles and cars.
Millon, Kim & Millon, Marc The Wine Roads of France (1989)
Public spending cuts in and beyond legal aid will also have an impact.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was hardly as if this were a matter of huge public interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There used to be many public figures who were absolutely beyond criticism.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We have said that debt could be brought back on to public books as part of our reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Public sector jobs will be shed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The slight increase in public sector activity disguises continuing uncertainty about the scale of spending cuts which we have yet to experience.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
You have to look very carefully at your motives if you become a public figureHarold PinterOne for the Road
In other languages
public
British English: public /ˈpʌblɪk/ ADJECTIVE
Public means relating to all the people in a country or community.
The government is under pressure from public opinion.
American English: public
Arabic: عَامّ
Brazilian Portuguese: público
Chinese: 公众的
Croatian: javni
Czech: veřejný
Danish: offentlig
Dutch: openbaar
European Spanish: público
Finnish: julkinen
French: public pas privé
German: öffentlich
Greek: δημόσιος
Italian: pubblico
Japanese: 公衆の
Korean: 공공의
Norwegian: offentlig
Polish: publiczny
European Portuguese: público
Romanian: public
Russian: общественный
Latin American Spanish: público
Swedish: allmän
Thai: เกี่ยวข้องกับสาธารณชน
Turkish: kamu
Ukrainian: публічний
Vietnamese: công cộng
British English: public /ˈpʌblɪk/ NOUN
You can refer to people in general as the public.
The public is tired of hearing about this.
American English: public
Arabic: العَامَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: público
Chinese: 公众
Croatian: javnost
Czech: veřejnost
Danish: offentlighed
Dutch: publiek
European Spanish: público
Finnish: yleisö kansa
French: public gens
German: Öffentlichkeit
Greek: κοινό
Italian: pubblico
Japanese: 公衆
Korean: 대중
Norwegian: allmennhet
Polish: publiczność
European Portuguese: público
Romanian: public
Russian: общественность
Latin American Spanish: público
Swedish: allmänheten
Thai: สาธารณชน
Turkish: halk
Ukrainian: громада
Vietnamese: quần chúng
All related terms of 'public'
go public
If a company goes public , it starts selling its shares on the stock exchange .
in public
If you say or do something in public , you say or do it when a group of people are present.
Joe Public
the general public
public bar
In a British pub , a public bar is a room where the furniture is plain and the drinks are cheaper than in the pub's other bars.
public bill
(in Parliament ) a bill dealing with public policy that usually applies to the whole country
public body
A body is an organized group of people who deal with something officially .
public debt
the total financial obligations incurred by all governmental bodies of a nation
public eye
public attention or notice ; limelight
public gaze
If someone or something is in the public gaze , they are receiving a lot of attention from the general public.
public law
a law that applies to the public of a state or nation
public life
You can use life to refer to the things that people do and experience that are characteristic of a particular place, group, or activity.
public mood
The mood of a group of people is the way that they think and feel about an idea, event, or question at a particular time.
public room
a lounge or other room that is open to all, esp. in a hotel or on a ship
public weal
→ the public weal
notary public
a public official, usually a solicitor , who is legally authorized to administer oaths , attest and certify certain documents, etc
public domain
If information is in the public domain , it is not secret and can be used or discussed by anyone.
public enemy
a notorious person, such as a criminal , who is regarded as a menace to the public
public figure
Someone who is referred to as a figure of a particular kind is a person who is well-known and important in some way.
public goods
services such as national defence , law enforcement, and road building, that are for the benefit of, and available to, all members of the public
public health
the activities and services that are designed to improve the standard of health of the general population
public house
A public house is the same as a → pub .
public image
The image of a person, group, or organization is the way that they appear to other people.
public money
money that has been collected by the state, usually through taxation
public office
Someone who is in public office is in a job that they have been elected to do by the public.
public outcry
An outcry is a reaction of strong disapproval and anger shown by the public or media about a recent event.
public policy
A policy is a set of ideas or plans that is used as a basis for making decisions , especially in politics, economics , or business.
public purse
→ the public purse
public safety
Safety is the state of being safe from harm or danger .
public school
In Britain , a public school is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term .
public sector
The public sector is the part of a country's economy which is controlled or supported financially by the government.
public spirit
active interest in public welfare or the good of the community
public toilet
A toilet is a room in a house or public building that contains a toilet.
public works
Public works are buildings, roads , and other projects that are built by the government or state for the public.
general public
You can refer to the people in a society as the general public , especially when you are contrasting people in general with a small group.
motoring public
the population that drive road vehicles
notaries public
a public official, usually a solicitor , who is legally authorized to administer oaths , attest and certify certain documents, etc
public affairs
politics ; the business of governing
public analyst
a scientist who tests food, water etc to ensure that they are safe
public building
a building that belongs to a town or state, and is used by the public
public company
A public company is a company whose shares can be bought by the general public.
public defender
A public defender is a lawyer who is employed by a city or county to represent people who are accused of crimes but cannot afford to pay for a lawyer themselves.
public enquiry
an official enquiry, usually into a serious accident or other disaster , or into planning applications . Interested parties can attend , and contribute .
public footpath
a footpath along which the public has right of way
public gallery
the gallery in a chamber of Parliament reserved for members of the public who wish to listen to the proceedings
public holiday
a holiday observed over the whole country
public housing
low-rent housing provided by the state
public inquiry
an official enquiry, usually into a serious accident or other disaster , or into planning applications . Interested parties can attend , and contribute .
public interest
the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth
public lavatory
a public toilet
public library
a library that is open to the public
Chinese translation of 'public'
public
(ˈpʌblɪk)
adj
(= from people)[support, opinion, interest]公众(眾)的 (gōngzhòng de)
(= for people)[building, service, library]公共的 (gōnggòng de)