All Definitions for Public
Below are all the dictionary definitions of public:
1Able to be known or seen by everyone
2Happening without concealment
3Open to general view.
4Open to all members of a community, as opposed to only a segment of it
5Especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.
6Of a company: having shares of stock traded publicly, for example, through a stock market.
7Pertaining to the people as a whole, as opposed to a group of people
8Concerning the whole community or country.
9Officially representing the community
10Carried out or funded by the government or state on behalf of the community, rather than by a private organization.
11Pertaining to a person in the capacity in which they deal with other people on a formal or official basis, as opposed to a personal or private capacity
12Official, professional.
13Of an object: accessible to the program in general, not only to a class or subclass.
14Chiefly preceded by the: members of the community or the people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.
15Preceded by a possessive determiner such as my, your, or their: a group of people who support a particular person, especially a performer, a writer, etc.
16An audience, a following.
17(often public relations) Often preceded by the and a qualifying word: a particular demographic or group of people, or segment of the population, sharing some common characteristic.
18(sociology) A group of people sharing some common cultural, political, or social interest, but not necessarily having any interactions with each other.
19Chiefly in in public: the presence of spectators or people generally
20The open.
21An internet publication.
22Pertaining to nations collectively, or to nations regarded as civilized
23International, supernational.
24Now chiefly in public spirit and public-spirited: seeking to further the best interests or well-being of the community or nation.
25Now only in public figure: famous, prominent, well-known.
26In some older universities in the United Kingdom: open or pertaining to the whole university, as opposed to a constituent college or an individual staff member or student.
27Of or pertaining to the human race as a whole
28Common, universal.
29Chiefly in make public: of a work: printed or otherwise published.
30(obsolete) Chiefly preceded by the: a collective body of a politically organized nation or state
31A body politic, a nation, a state
32Also, the interest or well-being of such a collective body
33The common good.
34(obsolete) (US, university slang) At Harvard University: a penalty imposed on a student involving a grade reduction which is communicated to the student's parents or guardian.
35To make (something) openly or widely known
36To publicize, to publish.
37(informal) Ellipsis of public house or (dated) public bar (“an inn, a pub: the more basic bar in a public house, as contrasted with the lounge bar or saloon bar which has more comfortable seats, personalized service, etc.”).
About antonyms for public
Finding the right antonym for public helps writers create contrast, clarify meaning, and add depth to their work. Defined as "Able to be known or seen by everyone", public has 1 opposite words that can be used to express contrasting ideas.
Each antonym carries a slightly different shade of opposition. Private is the most direct opposite in most situations.
When choosing an antonym, consider the connotation, formality level, and audience. Some alternatives work better in casual conversation while others shine in academic or professional writing. For example, using a more formal antonym in a business email can elevate your tone, while a casual antonym might feel more natural in creative writing or dialogue.
It is also worth noting that not all antonyms are perfectly interchangeable. The context of your sentence, the surrounding words, and the intended emotional impact all play a role in selecting the best opposite word. The list above provides the most common and useful antonyms for public, but always read your sentence aloud to ensure the chosen word flows naturally.