public
/ˈpʌblɪk/ adjectiveDefinition
› relating to ordinary people in general, rather than being limited to a particular group only: Proper archiving and preservation will ensure permanent public access to government information. They are trying to get public support for their takeover bid. public opinion/confidence/trust Senior politicians have been accused of failing to act in the public interest.
› GOVERNMENT relating to the government and to the services it provides to people: She has said repeatedly that she would not seek public office again. Why should public money be pumped into companies geared to profit? The OECD is encouraging member states to keep a watchful eye on public finances, in part by encouraging more efficiency in the health care system of individual countries. public services/funding/spending
› known about by people in general: The retailer has been working to improve its public image in the face of ongoing criticism. The question of bonus payments to bankers has been the subject of much public discussion in recent times.
› available for anyone to hear, watch, go to, or be involved in: The company is holding a public meeting tonight to describe the proposal to residents. a public inquiry/investigation/hearing
› available for everyone to use: a public telephone/library public transport
› STOCK MARKET, FINANCE available to be bought by everyone, not just by people who are already shareholders: Class A shares may be purchased at the public offering price.
go public › STOCK MARKET a company that goes public makes shares available on a stock market for the first time: After going public last May at $20 per share, they traded as high as $86 in October. → See also initial public offering
in public › if something is done or said in public, everyone knows or hears about it: These are issues that should be discussed in public.
make (sth) public › to say or publish something in order that everyone knows or hears about it: The annual financial disclosure report was made public yesterday. → Compare private
(Definition of public adjective from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary
© Cambridge University Press)
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