Synonyms of public

public 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpə-blik 

1

as in open

not known by only a select few

the mayor's plans to retire have been public knowledge for some time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• open
• general
• broadcast
• publicized
• shared
• widespread
• aired
• communal
• on record
• popular
• prevalent
• current
• published
• unclassified
• nonclassified
• well-known
• disclosed
• advertised
• posted
• declared
• announced
• proclaimed
• rumored
• heralded
• promulgated
• reported
• rife
• divulged
• reputed
• spotlighted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• private
• confidential
• secret
• privy
• classified
• personal
• undisclosed
• clandestine
• unannounced
• covert
• unadvertised
• conspiratorial
• intimate
• collusive
• surreptitious
• undercover
• withheld
• underhanded
• underhand
• repressed
• concealed
• reserved
• suppressed
• revoked
• stifled
• retracted
• silenced
• recanted

2

as in unrestricted

freely available for use or participation by all

a public swimming pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

• open
• unrestricted
• communal
• collective
• shared
• free-for-all
• available
• accessible
• common
• free
• unregulated
• unreserved

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• private
• closed
• exclusive
• restricted
• limited
• off-limits
• inaccessible
• unavailable

3

as in national

of or relating to a nation

a trade agreement in the public interest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• national
• civil
• federal
• municipal
• civic
• governmental
• government
• internal
• democratic
• republican
• nationwide
• domestic
• intestine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• international
• global
• foreign
• nonnational
• external
• alien

4

as in general

held by or applicable to a majority of the people

public sentiment was against the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• general
• prevailing
• popular
• overall
• unanimous
• majority
• common
• predominant
• received
• vulgar
• present
• current
• ruling
• usual
• universal
• contemporary
• dominant
• communal
• everyday
• widespread
• typical
• pop
• familiar
• characteristic
• household
• prevalent
• pervasive
• shared
• well-known
• preponderant
• rife
• pandemic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• special
• uncommon
• unusual
• unknown
• rare
• private
• strange
• individual
• unpopular
• personal
• unique
• separate
• distinctive
• peculiar
• especial
• idiosyncratic
• singular
• nonpublic

5

as in collective

used or done by a number of people as a group

public transportation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collective
• joint
• collaborative
• communal
• combined
• mutual
• shared
• cooperative
• concerted
• multiple
• united
• pooled
• common
• conjoint
• general
• reciprocal
• bilateral
• mass
• consensual
• conjunct
• generic
• synergistic
• symbiotic
• popular
• universal
• two-way
• synergic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• individual
• private
• personal
• single
• exclusive
• sole
• one-man
• unilateral
• solitary
• several
• independent
• separate
• special
• one-sided
• one-way
• particular
• specialized
• esoteric

public

2 of 2

noun

1

as in world

human beings in general

a lecture open to the public

Synonyms & Similar Words

• world
• people
• humanity
• folks
• society
• species
• humankind
• community
• populace
• masses
• crowd
• rabble
• proletariat
• mob
• rabblement
• riffraff

2

as in populace

the body of the community as contrasted with the elite

the highbrows have always disdained his novels, but the public just eats them up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• populace
• people
• crowd
• mass
• commons
• commoners
• mob
• millions
• multitude
• plebeians
• plebs
• rank and file
• herd
• cattle
• hoi polloi
• rabble
• proletariat
• unwashed
• trash
• rout
• riffraff
• scum
• bourgeoisie
• rabblement
• middle class
• ragtag and bobtail
• tag, rag, and bobtail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elite
• choice
• aristocracy
• pride
• flower
• elect
• cream
• fat
• upper crust
• pink
• society
• A-list
• best
• pick
• quality
• nobility
• royalty
• corps d'elite
• gentry
• peerage
• gentility
• patriciate
• gentlefolk
• haute monde

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of public

Adjective

The deal in Maryland was opposed by Public Citizen, a public interest advocacy nonprofit, the NAACP, the Port Tobacco River Conservancy, and the Independent Market Monitor, which acts as a neutral watchdog for the regional power market. — Petala Ironcloud, ArsTechnica, 7 Sep. 2026

The embroidered panorama depicting the last successful invasion of England goes on public display at the British Museum this week, back on British soil for the first time since the 11th century. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Noun

But the viewing public, in the absence of Clancy’s own explanation of her experiences leading up to and after the killings, has projected its own ideas onto the case and rendered its own verdict. — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

At first, the Japanese public responded by tuning in daily, but as the week went by, interest dwindled. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing public

• go public (with)
• public house
• public servant
• public speaking