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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.
Twenty-two months after the NFL’s Chargers announced their relocation from San Diego to Greater Los Angeles, San Diego voters approved a sale of public land in east Mission Valley. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2025 In an attempt to raise funding for the state's Department of Natural Resources, Republican lawmakers are suggesting imposing a fee for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and cross-country skiing on public land. Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 21 Nov. 2025 Many vandals who damage public lands are never caught. Owen Clarke, Outside, 20 Nov. 2025 One facet of public space is, of course, public lands, a notion that calls to mind wide open expanses in the American West where buffalo roam and rivers run. JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 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 28 Nov. 2025.

Legal Definition

public land

noun
: land owned by a government
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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