Entry Word: public

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 not known by only a select few <it was public knowledge that they were expecting a baby>

Synonyms open

Related Words general, popular; unclassified, well-known; advertised, aired, announced, broadcast, declared, disclosed, divulged, heralded, posted, proclaimed, promulgated, publicized, published, spotlighted; current, prevalent, rife, widespread; communal, shared; reported, reputed, rumored

Near Antonyms classified; unadvertised, unannounced, undisclosed; clandestine, collusive, conspiratorial, covert; surreptitious, undercover, underhand, underhanded; intimate, personal; concealed, repressed, reserved, silenced, stifled, suppressed, withheld; recanted, retracted, revoked

Antonyms confidential, private, privy, secret

2 freely available for use or participation by all <a public swimming pool> — see open 2
3 of or relating to a nation <a trade agreement in the public interest> — see national
4 held by or applicable to a majority of the people <public sentiment was against the war> — see general 3
5 used or done by a number of people as a group <public transportation> — see collective