| Noun | 1. | public - people in general considered as a whole; "he is a hero in the eyes of the public"people - (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; "old people"; "there were at least 200 people in the audience" admass - the segment of the public that is easily influenced by mass media (chiefly British) audience - the part of the general public interested in a source of information or entertainment; "every artist needs an audience"; "the broadcast reached an audience of millions" | |
| 2. | public - a body of people sharing some common interest; "the reading public"body - a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity; "the whole body filed out of the auditorium" | |
| Adj. | 1. | public - not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole; "the public good"; "public libraries"; "public funds"; "public parks"; "a public scandal"; "public gardens"; "performers and members of royal families are public figures"exoteric - suitable for the general public; "writings of an exoteric nature" overt, open - open and observable; not secret or hidden; "an overt lie"; "overt hostility"; "overt intelligence gathering" private - confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy; "a private place"; "private discussions"; "private lessons"; "a private club"; "a private secretary"; "private property"; "the former President is now a private citizen"; "public figures struggle to maintain a private life" | |
| 2. | public - affecting the people or community as a whole; "community leaders"; "community interests"; "the public welfare"common - belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public; "for the common good"; "common lands are set aside for use by all members of a community" | |