American English
/ˈpʰəb.lɪk̚/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Open or available for everyone to use, visit, or know about.
Practice out loudOpen or available for everyone to use, visit, or know about.
The museum is open to the public on Sundays.
The report is now public.
Public is not the same as popular. Use popular when many people like something.
public park · public event · public access
public + noun
be open to the public
Owned, run, or paid for by the government, not by a private person or company.
My children go to a public school.
Most buses here are part of the public transportation system.
In American English, a public school is run and paid for by the government. In British English, public school can mean a private school.
public school · public transportation · public hospital · public money
public + noun
Connected with the interests or activities of ordinary people or society as a whole.
Public health depends on clean water.
Public opinion changed after the interview.
public health · public opinion · public interest
public + noun
Done or shown where other people can see or hear it, not privately.
She does not like arguing in public.
The company made a public apology.
public apology · public debate · public argument
in public
public + noun
where other people can see or hear you
He hates speaking in public.
to tell people about something officially or let everyone know it
The company made the results public.
official information that people can see
The case is a matter of public record.