public 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpə-blik How to pronounce public (audio)
Definition of publicnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unrestricted
freely available for use or participation by all a public swimming pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in national
of or relating to a nation a trade agreement in the public interest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in general
held by or applicable to a majority of the people public sentiment was against the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group public transportation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

public

2 of 2

noun

1
as in world
human beings in general a lecture open to the public

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of public
Adjective
These efforts has taken place both in actual courtrooms and in the court of public opinion. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 Supervisor and board chair Rosario Rodriguez cast the lone dissenting vote, citing cuts to public safety funding, including the elimination of the POP team. — Reeti Malhotra july 13, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
Noun
To combat anti-AI sentiment and try to encourage the American public to embrace AI, OpenAI has suggested that the US create a sovereign wealth fund similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026 If the American public embraces them—not despite all that, but because of it—the team may be inspired to heroic heights, like the Koreans in 2002. — Michael Morris, Time, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for public
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public
  1. open
  2. unrestricted
  3. national
  4. general
  5. collective
  6. world
  7. populace
  8. broadcast
Adjective
  • Kappel said the hall will be open to organizations in the community and the public for planning events, including musical programs, conferences, films, and lectures, as well as to business leaders who may want to host corporate events there.
    — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • Owners who live close to a quality shop, have open schedules and don’t mind handling drop-offs and pickups may find the traditional route just as effective at a lower price.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of open
Adjective
  • The existence of valid uses does not outweigh the daily and sometimes constant distraction that unrestricted smartphone access creates.
    — Paul Jester, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • While DeRozan leaves Sacramento after two seasons to become an unrestricted free agent, LaVine and Sabonis appear to be returning for the 2026-27 season.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of unrestricted
Adjective
  • But Canada has plans to launch hundreds of new satellites to safeguard its national sovereignty, reducing reliance on Washington, and the European Union is developing its own network of 290 satellites.
    — Amy Gunia, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • But for all Regragui’s success, replacement Mohammed Ouahbi is even more closely aligned to the national team DNA, having been in charge of the victorious under-20s side prior to stepping up.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of national
Adjective
  • Others, like Chevanni Davids, a 33-year-old South African man living in Bali, use them to maintain a general sense of well-being.
    — Shelby Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Ukraine's military general staff said Monday that the strike caused a fire at the facility, which is situated nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) from Ukrainian territory and close to Russia's border with Kazakhstan.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The community's collective action successfully forced this specific rollback, though the broader strategy of in-game purchases persists.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • In laboratory tests, fleets of four and eight robots autonomously assembled into target structures, disconnected, reassembled into new shapes, and operated as a single rigid vessel capable of collective movement.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
Definition of collective
Noun
  • The Castro family has been linked, through GAESA chiefly, to a lucrative world of hotels, banks, retail monopolies, foreign-currency businesses, foreign private compounds and offshore accounts.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Hiltz finished seventh in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics and fifth in the same race at the 2025 world championships in Tokyo.
    — Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • His profiteering has drawn criticism from even the traditionally conservative editorial boards at the Wall Street Journal and New York Post, as well as the broader American populace.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 2 July 2026
  • The ongoing diversification of the American populace ensures that Latin American rhythms, jazz subgenres and electronic innovations will continue to redefine what the nation will sound like moving forward.
    — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of populace
Adjective
  • In separate filings, both media outlets raised questions as to the validity of the NFL’s broadcast antitrust exemption, a provision established under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Cuba’s government displayed on the broadcast nautical maps to show where the Pro-Line was spotted, its route through Cuban waters and the location where the shooting occurred.
    — David Smiley, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of broadcast

Phrases Containing public

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pub crawlers
public
publication
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Cite this Entry

“Public.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on public

Nglish: Translation of public for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public

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