publics
Masses being addressed
Publics is the plural of public when public means a particular group of people with shared interests or characteristics: The museum serves multiple publics—scholars, students, and casual visitors.
Marketing and communications professionals speak of target publics.
The usage acknowledges that "the public" is not monolithic but composed of distinct audiences with different needs.
Members of a nation
- electorateEligible voting body
- votersThose who cast ballots
- constituentsParts of a whole
- taxpayersThose who owe the state
residents · inhabitants · populace · citizenry · nationals · denizens · locals · natives
Those who observe events
- viewersPeople who watch
- listenersThose who attend aurally
- attendeesPeople at an event
- crowdLarge public gathering
fans · followers · subscribers · patrons · onlookers · gallery · witnesses · congregation
Organizations promoting shared agendas
- constituenciesElectoral regions or supporter groups
- pressure groupsOrganizations influencing government decisions
- advocacy groupsOrganizations promoting particular causes
- lobbiesBuilding entrance areas
sectors · factions · blocs · coalitions · associations · organizations · movements · activists
Separate parts of something
- cohortsGroups of accomplices
- age groupsCohorts defined by birth years
- target marketsIntended consumer groups
- socioeconomicsSociety-wealth relationship study
subgroups · populations · niches · brackets · profiles · sectors · categories · stratification
Bulk or populace
- multitudesVery large numbers
- commonalityShared characteristic among things
- rank and fileOrdinary members collectively
- mainstreamDominant cultural current
majority · silent majority · vox populi · hoi polloi · commoners · everyman · populism · mob
citizens
Members of a nation
- electorateEligible voting body
- votersThose who cast ballots
- constituentsParts of a whole
taxpayers · residents · inhabitants · populace · citizenry · nationals · denizens · locals · natives · community
spectators
Those who observe events
crowd · fans · followers · subscribers · patrons · onlookers · gallery · witnesses · congregation · clientele
interest groups
Organizations promoting shared agendas
- constituenciesElectoral regions or supporter groups
- pressure groupsOrganizations influencing government decisions
- advocacy groupsOrganizations promoting particular causes
lobbies · sectors · factions · blocs · coalitions · associations · organizations · movements · activists · NGOs
segments
Separate parts of something
- cohortsGroups of accomplices
- age groupsCohorts defined by birth years
- target marketsIntended consumer groups
socioeconomics · subgroups · populations · niches · brackets · profiles · sectors · categories · stratification · youth
masses
Bulk or populace
- multitudesVery large numbers
- commonalityShared characteristic among things
- rank and fileOrdinary members collectively
mainstream · majority · silent majority · vox populi · hoi polloi · commoners · everyman · populism · mob · throng
publicsindividual
One separate human being
individuals · person · private person · single person · the self
publicsprivates
Lowest enlisted rank
private sectors · secret societies · hidden networks · exclusive clubs · inner sanctums
publicsinsiders
Those with special access
internals · members · in-groups · inner circle · private parties
- 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
public, publish, republic, publication, publicity, publishing, publicize, publisher, publicly