the public
noun
: the people of a country, state, etc.
the American public
The beach is open to the public.
The general public is in favor of the law.
Members of the public called for the mayor's resignation.
Examples of the public in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Officials gave conflicting explanations for the closure, leaving the public unsure about what actually occurred in the skies above El Paso.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
Since its inception, journalists have used the polls to disseminate that information to the public.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Unlike the rest, the tone is more measured, the assertions about the litigator limited to what’s already in the public record.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The court said attorneys and the public are encouraged to avoid visiting court business offices Friday unless necessary — and those who go to the court should expect delays.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the public
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Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
Since its inception, journalists have used the polls to disseminate that information to the public.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Unlike the rest, the tone is more measured, the assertions about the litigator limited to what’s already in the public record.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The court said attorneys and the public are encouraged to avoid visiting court business offices Friday unless necessary — and those who go to the court should expect delays.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the public
Cite this Entry
“The public.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20public. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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