public square

noun

1
: an open public area in a city or town where people gather
St. Mark's Square in Venice is sinking at a time when this Italian city's popularity is rising. The world's most famous public square now floods an average of three out of every five days.Tom Crosby
2
: the sphere of public opinion
In an August 2007 speech, then-New York governor Eliot Spitzer expounded upon Reinhold Niebuhr and the virtues of humility in the public square.Lisa Miller
… using legal action to cow an opponent into silence, and withdrawal from the public square.Mark Steyn

Examples of public square 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.
Essentially, the forum was a multipurpose public square or open area usually found in a central location. Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 For its tony historic vibe, primo location on the city's landmark public square, and superlative service, The Rittenhouse is a perennial favorite that has long drawn discerning visitors seeking reliable luxury. Osayi Endolyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Aug. 2024 Perhaps law enforcement officials imagined that the Internet’s public square is a messy democratic free-for-all that caters to the fringes of society but whose online screeds don’t metastasize into offline violence. Nina Jankowicz, Foreign Affairs, 12 Jan. 2021 Some of the world’s best skateboarders will take over one of Paris’ largest public squares at the 2024 Olympics. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for public square 

Word History

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of public square was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near public square

Cite this Entry

“Public square.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20square. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!