public works

plural noun

: works (such as schools, highways, docks) constructed for public use or enjoyment especially when financed and owned by the government

Examples of public works in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

City public works spokesperson Melissa Stoner told the Statesman in an email that the city commissions a third-party consultant every five to 10 years to analyze the waste Boise brings to the landfill. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 5 June 2024

Back when some of those homes were built in the mid-20th century, the city could only recommend, not require, a certain elevation, said Claude Tankersley, St. Petersburg’s public works administrator. —Patricia Mazzei, New York Times, 5 June 2024

Pasadena Now reported at the time that a public works administrator offered assurance that none of the trees lining the street was slated for removal. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024

The armed forces now serve as the country’s police, build major public works, and control immigration and infrastructure. —Denise Dresser, Foreign Affairs, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

public works

plural noun

: works (as schools, highways, or docks) constructed with public funds for public use