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

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

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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
Under DeWine's order, public and private universities in Ohio would be able to allow the Class of ’22 athletes to play, even though the NCAA’s new guidance excludes those who have already played four seasons. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Zuma’s absence from public campaigning has heightened questions about whether the movement can maintain its momentum without him. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
Advertisement The financial and reputational damage of these strikes has also put the Saudi public on the frontline of the conflict. — Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The overwhelming majority of the NFL public said that team would go 0-16. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 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
  • By the way, what’s also changed is that a lot of markets that were open to China — the US, Turkey, Japan — have taken protectionist measures.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Current listings include a $25 seat outside Nashville and 19 open seats at $70 each at a Las Vegas wedding next month.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of open
Adjective
  • Heading into the 2027 offseason, with many of the league’s stars locked into long-term contracts, four unrestricted free agents could meaningfully change teams’ fortunes.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The new cohort joins 20 previously awarded fellows who have received close to $700,000 in unrestricted funding since 2021, when Inevitable Foundation was founded.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of unrestricted
Adjective
  • But the talent for going viral that helped Ramaswamy gain a national profile has proved less successful this election cycle in Ohio.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Because of its proportional representation system – voters cast one vote for a national party-list – even the largest parties rarely win more than 35 seats, and Israel has always had coalition governments.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of national
Adjective
  • Jason Reynolds, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of Integrated Air and Missile Defense, described RIG-360 as critical to PAC-3 operations and in-flight performance.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Vance has faced general questions about his association with Carlson, a former Fox News host who faced backlash last year for interviewing antisemite Nick Fuentes on his podcast.
    — Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The installation will include about 100 postcards by the Postbox Ghana collective depicting tropical modernist architectural buildings in cities such as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
    — Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • At Explo ‘72 in Dallas, thousands pointed their fingers toward the sky in a moment of collective belief.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of collective
Noun
  • Who would want the callous world that successfully cloistered the feelings of others?
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Daily Alerts Stay informed as soon as important news breaks around Washington DC and the entire world.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • Despite Jack’s best efforts to bring Christmas cheer to the world, his gifts horrify the populace.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The decision was ultimately reversed by a New York Supreme Court judge, on the grounds that Warren violated the populace’s religious liberties.
    — Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of populace
Adjective
  • Federal prohibition still locks plant-touching brands out of Meta, Google, most broadcast and print channels, and, sometimes, even basic financial plumbing.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 21 Oct. 2026.

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