publicly

adverb

pub·​lic·​ly ˈpə-bli-klē How to pronounce publicly (audio)
variants or less commonly publically
Synonyms of publiclynext
1
: in a manner observable by or in a place accessible to the public : openly
2
a
: by the people generally
b
: by a government

Examples of publicly in a Sentence

She very publicly acknowledged her mistake. The information is publicly available. The policies have been publicly approved.
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.
Hill has never publicly addressed Brady’s posts. Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026 But most also said they felt betrayed by an organization that publicly touted a Christian message and a commitment to helping others while internally prioritizing money over the well-being of their clients and staff. Alex Acquisto, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026 The identity of Works’ mother wasn’t publicly released as of Thursday. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 The full terms have not been publicly disclosed, and much remains uncertain about the agreement. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for publicly

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of publicly was in 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Publicly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/publicly. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on publicly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster