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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
She is also known for her public scholarship and digital projects. — Big Think, 4 Aug. 2026 According to the study’s co-authors, the data center industry follows a predictable path of building wherever infrastructure already exists, but its lack of public transparency creates a major hurdle. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
An opinion shared by 80–90% of the American public, and scientifically backed by the entire existence of human biology. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 But New York public records officials confirmed to Ars in May that no information would be shared, partly because X fought the disclosures. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 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
  • Rodriguez was appointed after Republican senators held the seat open for three years, causing backed up court dockets, some experts said.
    — Julia Coin July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • The driver eventually exited the vehicle, approached its open trunk and fired a gun into the trunk, according to authorities.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of open
Adjective
  • And being vigilant when granting AI agents unrestricted permissions — to use external apps on one’s behalf, or to be able to edit and write with autonomy — might help keep one safe.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Ajay Mitchell is set to join him in unrestricted free agency, while Jared McCain and Nikola Topić will be restricted free agents.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of unrestricted
Adjective
  • The effect was to invalidate both China’s nine-dash line and its artificial island-building campaign—a massive blow to China’s national pride.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • With moisture moving in from the Atlantic coast, national weather service Meteo France forecast light rain in the town of Lege-Cap Ferret, on a peninsula that's been a leading edge of the devastated region.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of national
Adjective
  • With Robertson in the lineup heading into training camp, general manager Jim Nill now has some options.
    — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • With multiple companies able to utilize general intelligence similarly, what will differentiate your firm from another will be the ability of your model to understand the work that needs to be done.
    — TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Like many of his fellow countrymen, Buji was inspired by the thought that this collective crossing could somehow unlock his dream of reaching Spain and starting a new life in Europe.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Other team-period notes With the second team in the same period, running back Brashard Smith caught a quick pass from Justin Fields and juked a defender, triggering a collective gasp from the crowd.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of collective
Noun
  • Meanwhile, digital surveillance has limited people’s ability to exchange information with the outside world from within Tibetan regions in China.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In the past year, the beauty world has been all about the best blushes, then conversation turned to bronzers thanks to the craze for Rhode's compacts.
    — Irene Coltrinari, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • Unbeknownst to the visitors, there’s an unhappy fifth party already in the house… and more than one homicidal maniac even within that small populace.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 July 2026
  • Their past two victories against Switzerland and Egypt came with the help of controversial calls that had the soccer-watching populace buzzing about potential favoritism toward Argentina.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 14 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

Browse Nearby Words

pub crawlers
public
publication
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Public.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on public

Nglish: Translation of public for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All