public
Open to all
Public, originally an adjective that developed noun meanings, has several meanings in which the idea of people—a word that public is distantly related to—figure prominently.
The core meaning of public is not private, or open to view or knowledge.
From this developed the most common noun sense, namely the people constituting a particular group, such as a community.
Collective of connected people
- societyOrganized communal human existence
- citizenryBody of inhabitants
- populaceInhabitants of a place
- electorateEligible voting body
constituency · residents · inhabitants · nation · commonwealth · people · general · mainstream
Those who observe events
- viewersPeople who watch
- listenersThose who attend aurally
- crowdLarge public gathering
- attendeesPeople at an event
onlookers · gathering · assembly · patrons · fans · bystanders · observers · congregation
Not closed
- accessibleAble to be reached
- unrestrictedHaving no limitations
- freeWithout payment or restriction
- availableReady to be used
inclusive · transparent · visible · exposed · disclosed · broadcast · shared · communal
Public open square
- squareRhombus with right angles
- parkPublic leisure grounds
- commonsShared community resources
- forumGathering place for discourse
agora · piazza · esplanade · promenade · garden · green · concourse · domain
Authority over a state
- policyAdopted principle of action
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- servicesActs performed for others
- sectorDistinct division of whole
official · spending · funds · budget · welfare · infrastructure · taxation · legislation
Concentrated illumination source
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- exposureState of being unprotected
- famePublic recognition, widespread
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
profile · notoriety · prominence · limelight · recognition · reputation · image · perception
community
Collective of connected people
electorate · constituency · residents · inhabitants · nation · commonwealth · people · general · mainstream · majority
spectators
Those who observe events
attendees · onlookers · gathering · assembly · patrons · fans · bystanders · observers · congregation · throng
open
Not closed
- accessibleAble to be reached
- unrestrictedHaving no limitations
- freeWithout payment or restriction
available · inclusive · transparent · visible · exposed · disclosed · broadcast · shared · communal · universal
plaza
Public open square
forum · agora · piazza · esplanade · promenade · garden · green · concourse · domain · thoroughfare
government
Authority over a state
- policyAdopted principle of action
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- servicesActs performed for others
sector · official · spending · funds · budget · welfare · infrastructure · taxation · legislation · accountability
spotlight
Concentrated illumination source
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- exposureState of being unprotected
- famePublic recognition, widespread
scrutiny · profile · notoriety · prominence · limelight · recognition · reputation · image · perception · opinion
- peoplepeople, persons, person, individuals, humans
- societysociety, social customs, class, citizen, social hierarchy
- human groupstribe, clan, class, caste, crowd
- event adjectivesannual, scheduled, planned, recurring, upcoming
- populacethe masses, common folk, ordinary people, hoi polloi, everyman
- school typesprivate, charter, magnet, boarding, Montessori school
publicprivate
Restricted to certain parties
restricted · closed · nonpublic · exclusive · off-limits
publicprivate
Restricted to certain parties
private-sector · corporate · commercial · privatized · for-profit
- in publicBefore others' eyes
- public libraryFree community book repository
- the publicPeople in general
- public schoolFree government-run education
- public bathroomShared toilet for all
- public speakingAddressing a live audience
publish, republic, publication, publicity, publishing, published, publicize, publisher, publicly