public land

noun

Definition of public land

: land owned by a government specifically : that part of the U.S. public domain subject to sale or disposal under the homestead laws

Examples of public land in a Sentence

the management of public lands The government will auction off 20 parcels of public land.

Recent Examples on the Web It was located in an area that came to be known as Freemanville after 500 former slaves settled near the Halifax River on public land secured with the help of the U.S. Freedman Bureau in 1866. — Cassie Armstrong, orlandosentinel.com, "Explore Central Florida’s Black history," 19 Feb. 2021 The cattle outside Bunkerville, Nevada, continue to graze on public land despite more than $1 million in unpaid fees. — Tribune News Service, oregonlive, "Ammon Bundy, veteran of armed standoffs, builds militia network on COVID-19 backlash," 14 Feb. 2021 That number compares to 65% of voters in New Mexico, and 47% of voters in Wyoming, a state with significant oil and gas development that takes place on public land. — Derek Draplin, Washington Examiner, "Western voters increasingly concerned about wildfires: Poll," 5 Feb. 2021 The catch is that the hunter must stay on my own property; no matter how big the buck—or doe—on the public land just on the other side of my fence. — Andrew Mckean, Outdoor Life, "Can You Keep COVID-Vulnerable Hunters Safe and Have a Real Deer Camp?," 26 Dec. 2020 At the same time, Uzuegbunam picked up support from explicitly nonreligious organizations such as the American Humanist Association, which in 2019 clashed with the ADF over a giant cross erected on public land. — Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, "College campus free speech case unites religious and atheist groups at Supreme Court," 12 Jan. 2021 Hunters may run up to three bait stations on public land, and bait permits may be picked up at IDFG offices. — Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, "5 Western Muzzleloader Hunts To Put On Your Calendar," 4 Jan. 2021 In turn, encouraging others to get out on public land directly affects their appreciation for our outdoor spaces and their conservation. — Durrell Smith, Outdoor Life, "It’s Time to Redefine What it Means to ‘Do Our Part’ as Hunters," 29 Dec. 2020 The still-anonymous creator of the Utah monument did not secure permission to plant the hollow, stainless steel object on public land. — NBC News, "Gingerbread monolith delights San Francisco on Christmas Day," 27 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'public land.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near public land

public knowledge

public liability insurance

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Last Updated

25 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Public land.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20land. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for public land

public land

noun

English Language Learners Definition of public land

US : land that is owned and taken care of by the government

See the full definition for public land in the English Language Learners Dictionary

public land

noun

Legal Definition of public land

: land owned by a government

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