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The Meaning of public

  • (a.) Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; -- opposed to private; as, the public treasury.
  • (a.) Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal.
  • (a.) Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house.
  • (n.) The general body of mankind, or of a nation, state, or community; the people, indefinitely; as, the American public; also, a particular body or aggregation of people; as, an author's public.
  • (n.) A public house; an inn.

Synonyms

reality , world , humankind , human race , earthly concern , man , cosmos , globe , creation , macrocosm , universe , worldly concern , populace , humanity , human beings , mankind , existence , humans , earth , domain , general , common , familiar , ordinary , universal , commonplace , frequent , popular , usual , customary , habitual , prevalent , everyday , normal , in the public eye(predicate) , national , open , semipublic , state-supported , unexclusive , unrestricted , exoteric , overt

Antonyms

offstage , closed-door , secluded , private , rare , singular , uncommon , unknown , unusual , head-to-head , backstage , toffee-nosed , close , exceptional , infrequent , semiprivate , cloistered , sequestered , reclusive , clannish , individual , privy , snobbish , cliquish , confidential , insular , snobby , one-on-one , tete-a-tete , clubby , secret , nonpublic , single

Rhymes

interpublic , niblick , nonpublic , republic