noun
- People in general considered as a whole.
- usage: "he is a hero in the eyes of the public"
- A body of people sharing some common interest.
- usage: "the reading public"
adjective
- Not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole.
- usage: "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures"
- Affecting the people or community as a whole.
- usage: "community leaders"; "community interests"; "the public welfare"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
| APA | WordNet. (2010). public. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/public/definitions/1181596 |
| Chicago | WordNet. 2010. "public" http://smartdefine.org/public/definitions/1181596 (accessed September 21, 2026). |
| Harvard | WordNet 2010, public, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/public/definitions/1181596>. |
| MLA | WordNet. "public" 23 October 2010. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/public/definitions/1181596> |