MEANING
Open to, available for, or intended for the community rather than a restricted private group.
Use it for
Shared gathering; visible encounters; access rightsState what the public is allowed to do in the space.
Words that belong together
- public space
- public square
- public access
On the page
The public square remained open after the surrounding shops closed.
She chose a public meeting place where neither could threaten the other unnoticed.
The new fence blocked a path that residents believed was public.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- public
Usage notes
Primary category: setting. Distinguish public access, public ownership, and public visibility. A publicly owned site may restrict entry, while a privately owned site can admit the public. Normally non-gradable in access or ownership categories.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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