the public
noun
: the people of a country, state, etc.
the American public
The beach is open to the public.
The general public is in favor of the law.
Members of the public called for the mayor's resignation.
Examples of the public in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the public comment period of school board meetings, prioritize input from people who live in the district.
—
Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
And when placed counter to men in power, we’re shamed; just take the long-overdue imprisonment of Diddy and the public vitriol towards his female victims.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
Tickets are $25 for the public, NMU faculty and staff; $10 for NMU students and children ages 12 and under get in free.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The disease cannot be spread directly from one person to another, authorities said, and the risk to the public is low.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the public
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.
Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
And when placed counter to men in power, we’re shamed; just take the long-overdue imprisonment of Diddy and the public vitriol towards his female victims.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
Tickets are $25 for the public, NMU faculty and staff; $10 for NMU students and children ages 12 and under get in free.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The disease cannot be spread directly from one person to another, authorities said, and the risk to the public is low.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the public
Cite this Entry
“The public.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20public. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share