public land

noun

: land owned by a government

specifically : that part of the U.S. public domain subject to sale or disposal under the homestead laws

Examples of public land in a Sentence

the management of public lands

The government will auction off 20 parcels of public land.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bureau of Land Management is evaluating a California energy company’s preliminary pitch to build a 3,700-acre data center on public land north of Twin Falls. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Oct. 2026

The sidewalk where the man was found is on Disneyland property rather than public land. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Democratic nominee Aaron Ford, the state attorney general, has pledged to oppose data centers on public lands, saying affordable housing should be the priority. — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Advertisement There is room for honest debate about how public lands should be managed. — Mary Beth Laughton, Time, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for public land

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Legal Definition

public land

noun

: land owned by a government