public

Meanings

Adjective

• Able to be seen or known by everyone; open to general view, happening without concealment.
• Pertaining to the people as a whole (as opposed to a private group); concerning the whole country, community etc.
• Officially representing the community; carried out or funded by the state on behalf of the community.
• Open to all members of a community; especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.
• Traded publicly via a stock market.
• Accessible to the program in general, not only to the class or any subclasses.

Noun

• The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.
• A particular group or demographic to be targeted.
• A public house; an inn.

Related

Opposite words

• private

Origin

• From Anglo-Norman publik, public, Middle French public, publique et al., and their source, Latin pūblicus ("pertaining to the people"). Compare people.