public
public — adjective
1. connected with all the people who live in a society, rather than only a specific
connected with all the people who live in a society, rather than only a specific group or a single person.
Public opinion about the new recycling program has been very positive.
collocation: public opinion
The mayor held a public meeting to answer questions from local residents.
collocation: public meeting
There is growing public concern about rising housing costs in the city.
Aoi posted the results online for public access.
Park improvements were made in the public interest.
- general
used in 'general public' to mean the whole population, but not interchangeable for all collocations (e.g. 'general opinion' ≠ 'public opinion')
- communal
more formal and stresses shared ownership or use within a community
- popular
focuses on what many people like or support, rather than what involves them
- private
belonging to or concerning a particular person or group, not the general population
文法句型
public + noun (public opinion, public interest, public health)
the public + noun
用法筆記
This is the broadest sense of 'public' as an adjective. It attaches to the noun that follows as something belonging to, affecting, or concerning everyone — not just a private individual or company. Do not use comparative forms (✗ 'more public opinion'); the concept is binary.
常見錯誤
2. paid for, owned, or run by the government using money from taxes, so that everyo
paid for, owned, or run by the government using money from taxes, so that everyone in a community can use it.
Lakshmi takes the public bus to work every morning.
collocation: public transport
Public schools in the district received new computers from the city government.
collocation: public school
The local public library offers free internet access to all residents.
Spending on public healthcare has increased steadily over the past decade.
Andrei works for a public university in the north of the country.
- state
more common in British English for government-run institutions (e.g. 'state school')
- government
used as adjective ('government agency', 'government funding'), but less natural for services like transport
- municipal
used for local city or town government services
- private
run by individuals or companies for profit, not by the government
文法句型
public + noun (public transport, public school, public library)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is about government ownership or funding, whereas sense 1 is about the general population as a whole. A 'public hospital' is government-run; 'public opinion' means what people think. Some nouns can take both senses with different meanings: 'public service' can mean a government service (sense 2) or a service for the community (sense 1).
常見錯誤
3. describing a location, space, or area where anyone is allowed to go or where man
describing a location, space, or area where anyone is allowed to go or where many people gather.
Aoi enjoys reading novels in the public park near her apartment.
collocation: public park
Smoking is banned in all indoor public places across the city.
collocation: public place
The public square filled with people celebrating the harvest festival.
Tunde left his bicycle in a public space outside the train station.
文法句型
public + noun (public place, public park, public space)
be + public (describing a location)
用法筆記
This sense applies specifically to physical locations. It overlaps with sense 2 when the place is government-owned (a 'public park' is usually also provided by the government), but the focus here is on open access and visibility, not funding source. A 'public square' in a privately owned shopping centre is still a 'public place' under this sense.
常見錯誤
4. describing a company whose ownership is divided into shares that any person can
describing a company whose ownership is divided into shares that any person can buy or sell on a stock exchange.
The tech start-up went public on the New York Stock Exchange last year.
phrasal pattern: go public
Selim invested in several public companies that focus on renewable energy.
collocation: public company
A public offering allows ordinary investors to buy shares for the first time.
The board voted to turn the family business into a public corporation.
- private
shares owned by a small group, not available to the general public
文法句型
public + noun (public company, public offering)
go + public (become a publicly traded company)
用法筆記
This is a specialised business sense. 'Public' here contrasts with 'private' (where shares are held by a small group and not traded on an exchange). 'Go public' is a fixed verb phrase meaning to issue shares for the first time (an Initial Public Offering, or IPO). The noun 'public' is not used in this business sense.
常見錯誤
5. known or seen by many people because it is not hidden or kept private.
known or seen by many people because it is not hidden or kept private.
The actor's divorce became public after a newspaper published the story.
pattern: become public
Camila made a public apology for her comments during the live broadcast.
collocation: public apology
The details of the contract were never made public.
It was public knowledge that the two singers had not spoken for years.
- secret
kept hidden or known only by a few people
- private
not intended to be known or seen by others
- confidential
kept secret out of privacy or official policy
文法句型
make + something + public
become + public
be + public + noun (public figure, public knowledge)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive construction 'be made public' and 'become public'. Unlike senses 1–3, this sense regularly follows linking verbs. A 'public figure' is a well-known person, not necessarily a government official — the emphasis is on visibility, not on belonging to the general population.
常見錯誤
public — noun
1. all ordinary people in a society, considered together as one group — not the gov
all ordinary people in a society, considered together as one group — not the government, not experts, and not a single organisation.
The public has a right to know how their tax money is being spent.
the public + singular verb
The museum will be closed to the public for renovations next month.
closed to the public
The general public was invited to share their opinions at the town hall.
Camila believes the public should have more influence over planning decisions.
The public are growing tired of misleading advertisements.
- government
the ruling body, as distinct from the people it governs
- élite
a small, powerful group within society
文法句型
the public + singular/plural verb
the general public
the public at large
open / closed to the public
用法筆記
This noun is almost always used with the definite article 'the'. It can be followed by either a singular verb ('the public is…' — treating it as a collective unit) or a plural verb ('the public are…' — emphasising the individuals), with the plural form more common in British English. 'General public' is a common fixed phrase that emphasises ordinary people as distinct from professionals or officials.
常見錯誤
2. people who share an interest in a particular person, brand, organisation, or act
people who share an interest in a particular person, brand, organisation, or activity — for instance, the fans of a musician, the readers of a magazine, or the customers of a company.
The author's novels have found a loyal reading public across Asia.
the reading public
Stephanie's band hopes to reach a wider public with their new album.
The museum expects its public to grow by fifteen percent this year.
The show attracted a young public who had never visited the theatre before.
文法句型
someone's public
the + adjective + public (the reading public, the theatre public)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to all ordinary people in general, while sense 2 refers to a specific segment of people who share an interest. 'The public' (sense 1) is everyone; 'her public' (sense 2) is her fans or followers. This sense can take a descriptive adjective such as 'reading', 'theatre', 'cinema', 'buying', 'voting'.
常見錯誤
3. a situation in which other people are present and can see or hear what is happen
a situation in which other people are present and can see or hear what is happening — not in a private setting.
Ilan does not like to sing in public because he feels shy.
fixed phrase: in public
The couple rarely argues in public and prefers to talk at home.
Manuela felt very nervous about speaking in public for the first time.
Élise found it hard to express her true feelings in public.
- openly
an adverb that can replace 'in public' in some contexts, but emphasises honesty rather than visibility
- in private
in a situation where no other people can see or hear
- secretly
without other people knowing
文法句型
in public (adverbial phrase)
verb + in public
用法筆記
This is not a standalone noun sense — it is only used in the fixed adverbial phrase 'in public', which contrasts with 'in private'. The phrase can modify any action verb: 'eat in public', 'cry in public', 'appear in public'. Unlike sense 1, there is no article: 'in the public' is incorrect for this meaning.