of, pertaining to, or affecting a population or a community as a whole

public funds; a public nuisance.

done, made, acting, etc., for the community as a whole

public prosecution.

open to all persons

a public meeting.

of, pertaining to, or being in the service of a community or nation, esp. as a government officer

a public official.

maintained at the public expense and under public control

a public library; a public road.

generally known

The fact became public.

familiar to the public; prominent

public figures.

open to the view of all; existing or conducted in public

a public dispute.

pertaining or devoted to the welfare or well-being of the community

public spirit.

of or pertaining to all humankind; universal.

the people constituting a community, state, or nation.

a particular group of people with a common interest, aim, etc.

the book-buying public.

British Informal . a tavern; public house. ?

go public

to issue stock for sale to the general public.

to present private or previously concealed information, news, etc., to the public; make matters open to public view

The Senator threatened to go public with his Congressional-reform plan.

in public

not in private; in a situation open to public view or access; publicly

It was the first time that she had sung in public.

make public, to cause to become known generally

as through the news media

Her resignation was made public this morning.

adjective

particular , private , specific , unknown

adjective

accessible , city , civic , civil , common , communal , conjoint , conjunct , country , federal , free , free to all , government , governmental , intermutual , metropolitan , municipal , mutual , national , not private , open , open-door , popular , social , state , universal , unrestricted , urban , widespread , without charge , exposed , general , in circulation , notorious , obvious , overt , patent , plain , prevalent , published , recognized , societal , usual , vulgar , joint , democratic , exoteric , lay , secular

noun

audience , bodies , buyers , citizens , clientele , commonalty , community , country , electorate , everyone , followers , following , heads , masses , men and women , mob , multitude , nation , patrons , people , populace , population , society , suite , supporters , voters , common , commonality , commoner , crowd , hoi polloi , mass , pleb , plebeian , ruck , third estate , accessible , civic , civil , communal , general , known , municipal , mutual , national , obvious , open , overt , plain , popular , shared , state , widespread