public land
noun
: 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
And the high-profile Rhyolite Ridge mine, proposed for public lands in Nevada, would produce not only lithium but also boron, another key ingredient in the energy transition.
—
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
For the past several years, Western states have had limited options for clearing campsites because of a federal court ruling, known as the Boise decision, that says people generally can’t be forced off public land if there are no available shelter beds.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Officials with the Bureau of Land Management called it one of the largest killings of its kind on public land managed by the agency.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Cities transfer public land for factory construction at little or no cost.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
SpaceX would acquire public land in Texas to expand its rocket-launch facilities under a tentative deal that is moving forward after months of opposition from nearby residents and officials near the U.S.-Mexico border.
—Valerie Gonzalez, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024
Most have elk-hunt planners, draw information, and public land maps.
—Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 22 Feb. 2024
The lease remains 30 years long only if the state and team can agree to a developmental rights deal for public land surrounding the stadium by 2027.
—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2024
Republicans last year, for example, voted down a proposal to ban minors from openly carrying guns on public land without adult supervision.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
For the past several years, Western states have had limited options for clearing campsites because of a federal court ruling, known as the Boise decision, that says people generally can’t be forced off public land if there are no available shelter beds.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Officials with the Bureau of Land Management called it one of the largest killings of its kind on public land managed by the agency.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Cities transfer public land for factory construction at little or no cost.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024
SpaceX would acquire public land in Texas to expand its rocket-launch facilities under a tentative deal that is moving forward after months of opposition from nearby residents and officials near the U.S.-Mexico border.
—Valerie Gonzalez, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024
Most have elk-hunt planners, draw information, and public land maps.
—Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 22 Feb. 2024
The lease remains 30 years long only if the state and team can agree to a developmental rights deal for public land surrounding the stadium by 2027.
—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2024
Republicans last year, for example, voted down a proposal to ban minors from openly carrying guns on public land without adult supervision.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'public land.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1789, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near public land
Cite this Entry
“Public land.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20land. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Legal Definition
public land
noun
: land owned by a government
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