publicly

adverb

pub·​lic·​ly ˈpə-bli-klē How to pronounce publicly (audio)
variants or less commonly publically
Synonyms of publiclynext
1
: in a manner observable by or in a place accessible to the public : openly
2
a
: by the people generally
b
: by a government

Examples of publicly in a Sentence

She very publicly acknowledged her mistake. The information is publicly available. The policies have been publicly approved.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After being publicly introduced in North Korea in 2022, Ju Ae made her first public appearance outside of her home country while accompanying her father on a trip to Beijing in September, his first visit to China in years, a move analysts said may signal her role as North Korea’s heir-in-waiting. Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026 The pair split in 2018 after dating publicly for four years and being involved for nearly a decade, but remained close friends. Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026 The Tarrant County Medical examiner’s office has not publicly identified the second victim. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Jan. 2026 The docuseries, which ran three seasons, delved into the experiences of Remini, Rinder, and other former members who left the church and claim they were harassed after publicly speaking out against the organization. Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for publicly

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of publicly was in 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Publicly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/publicly. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.

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