Public | Mean of public in English Dictionary

/ˈpʌblɪk/

• of, relating to, or affecting all or most of the people of a country, state, etc.
1. public opinion
2. Public outrage over the scandal eventually forced him to resign.
3. The ads are intended to increase public awareness of the risks of smoking.
4. a study of public policy [=government policies that affect the whole population]
5. He is the director of public affairs. [=his work involves events, activities, etc., that a company does for the public]
• of, relating to, paid for by, or working for a government
1. She was elected to a public office.
2. public spending/funding
3. public education/housing
4. a public corporation
5. a public prosecutor/officer
6. He was in Congress for many years but he recently retired from public life.
• supported by money from the government and from private contributors rather than by commercials
1. public television/radio

• able to be used by anyone
1. a public library/restroom/telephone/beach
2. public property
3. They decided on a nearby restaurant as a convenient public place to meet.
4. The government has allowed public access to the documents.
5. The city council is holding a public meeting.
• able to be seen or heard by many people
1. This will be her first public performance in five years.
2. a public apology
3. Her trial will be public.
• known to many people
1. As a celebrity, she is trying to keep her private life separate from her public life.
2. The scandal ruined his public image. [=the scandal caused many people to change their opinion of him from good to bad]
3. a public figure [=a well-known person]
4. The results of the study have been made public. [=have been announced, published, etc., so that they are generally known]
• offering shares or stock that can be traded on the open market
1. a public corporation/company
• to make something known to many people
1. He went public with his research.
• to offer shares or stock that can be freely traded on the open market
1. The company plans to go public.
• Noun
• the people of a country, state, etc.
1. the American public
2. The beach is open to the public.
3. (US) The public is angry with the President = (Brit) The public are angry with the President.
4. The general public is in favor of the law.
5. Members of the public called for the mayor's resignation.
• a group of people who have a shared interest, quality, etc.
1. He has once again won the approval of his public [=his supporters/fans] with his latest movie.
2. the reading public [=people who read a lot; people who enjoy reading]
• in a place where you can be seen by many people
1. They were seen kissing in public.
2. The former actress is now rarely seen in public.