public

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective of ordinary people 1 [onlybeforenoun] connected with ordinary people in society in general: The campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the issues. * Levels of waste from the factory may be a danger to public health. * Why would the closure of hospitals be in the public interest (= useful to ordinary people)? * The media has a powerful influence on public opinion. * The government had to bow to public pressure. for everyone 2 [onlybeforenoun] provided, especially by the government, for the use of people in general: a public education system * a public library / telephone * public transport / transportation OPPPRIVATE of government 3 [onlybeforenoun] connected with the government and the services it provides: public money / spending / funding / expenditure * He spent much of his career in public office (= working in the government). * (BrE) the public purse (= the money that the government can spend) * The rail industry is no longer in public ownership (= controlled by the government). OPPPRIVATE seen / heard by people 4 known to people in general: a public figure (= a person who is well known because they are often on the television, radio, etc.) * Details of the government report have not yet been made public. * She entered public life (= started a job in which she became known to the public) at the age of 25. * This latest scandal will not have done their public image (= the opinion that people have of them) any good. OPPPRIVATE 5 open to people in general; intended to be seen or heard by people in general: a public apology / inquiry / investigation * The painting will be put on public display next week. * This may be the band's last public appearance together. place 6 where there are a lot of people who can see and hear you: Let's go somewhere a little less public. OPPPRIVATE publicly adverb: a publicly owned company * He later publicly apologized for his comments. * This information is not publicly available. IDIOMS go public 1 to tell people about sth that is a secret: A court order failed to stop her going public with the story. 2 (of a company) to start selling shares on the STOCKEXCHANGE in the public eye well known to many people through newspapers and television: She doesn't want her children growing up in the public eye. moreatKNOWLEDGE noun [sing.+sing./pl.v.] ordinary people 1 (the public) ordinary people in society in general: The palace is now open to the public. * There have been many complaints from members of the public. * The public has / have a right to know what is contained in the report. seealsoTHEGENERALPUBLIC group of people 2 a group of people who share a particular interest or who are involved in the same activity: the theatre-going public * She knows how to keep her public (= for example, the people who buy her books) satisfied. IDIOMS in public when other people, especially people you do not know, are present: She doesn't like to be seen in public without her make-up on. * They never argue in public. compareINPRIVATE moreatWASHv.