public relations

noun

plural in form but usually singular in construction

often attributive

: the business of inducing the public to have understanding for and goodwill toward a person, firm, or institution

also : the degree of understanding and goodwill achieved

Examples of public relations in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. —Uri Samet, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Right now, most companies spread trust across public relations, legal, human resources, government affairs and other business functions that often pull in different directions. —Jonathan Jordan, Fortune, 27 May 2026

Historic success Showing why the draft was a success, Visit Pittsburgh points to the big attendance figures, relatively low emergency responses, big public transit ridership, and billions in public relations impressions. —Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 26 May 2026

The couple left Los Angeles, where Frost was a film producer and Amoui worked in financial public relations, and moved to Atlanta to take charge of the business. —Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for public relations

• abbreviations
• abominations
• accelerations
• accommodations
• accumulations
• adjudications
• administrations
• adulterations
• affiliations
• agglomerations
• alienations
• amalgamations

Kids Definition

public relations

noun

1

: the business of creating public goodwill for a person, firm, or institution

2

: the degree of understanding and goodwill achieved