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
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.
Since the Upper Sioux Agency land no longer provides those opportunities, the encumbrance must be placed on other public land of equal or greater market value. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025 Republicans, meanwhile, continue to agitate for the transfer of public lands to states or to private interests. Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025 This trio of billionaires does not seem to recognize the value of public lands –– or of public housing, or public education, or public broadcasting, or public transportation. Tom Montgomery Fate, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025 Bureau of Land Management officials on Thursday announced an emergency closure of public lands around Unaweep Canyon between Gateway and the north turnoff for Divide Road from Colorado 141 because of the fire. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for public land

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of public land was in 1789

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Public land.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20land. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Legal Definition

public land

noun
: land owned by a government
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!