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public figure

noun

: a well-known person

Examples of public figure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All this success begs the legitimate question of how the once-struggling reality show for has-been celebrities reinvented itself and became a pop-cultural phenomenon that any public figure would be lucky to utilize as their re-introduction into the zeitgeist. Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025 But Vance, 39, is the first second lady of her kind, a reserved and hesitant public figure, more focused on motherhood than statesmanship. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025 Bielsa isn’t the most popular public figure in Uruguay. Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025 At the event, Williams was honored with the Giving Tree Award, which is given annually to a female public figure who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the lives of children in need. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for public figure

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“Public figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20figure. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

Legal Definition

public figure

noun
public fig·​ure
: an individual or entity that has acquired fame or notoriety or has participated in a particular public controversy see also limited purpose public figure compare public official

Note: A public figure must prove actual malice in order to prevail in a defamation action.

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