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
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.
Though people could make reports to public works online before, Jenkins said the new portal adds dimensions, creating more efficiency. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026 The Board of Supervisors, the county’s five-member governing body, oversees a budget of nearly $11 billion and 18,000 employees across various departments, including public health, public safety, social services, animal care and public works. Claire Wang, Oc Register, 8 May 2026 For more than a dozen years, Dug was the Chronicle’s transportation writer, reporting on federal, state and local highway, transit, rail and public works policy as well as the culture of commuting in Houston. Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026 In Upper Township, public works crews are using bulldozers to push sand and rebuild beach access ramps that were wiped away. Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for public works

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of public works was in 1600

Cite this Entry

“Public works.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20works. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

public works

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

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