the public
Society at large
The public refers to people collectively, especially ordinary citizens as distinct from government, experts, or institutions.
The public has a right to know.
A politician goes before the public to seek approval.
Something done in public happens where others can observe.
To go public is to make information available to everyone, or for a company to offer shares on the stock market.
The public can narrow to a specific audience: the reading public, the viewing public.
- citizensMembers of a nation
- massesBulk or populace
- electorateEligible voting body
- populationAll inhabitants combined
- activismDirect effort for reform
consensus · audience · awareness · civic · taxpayers · common good · dialogue · residents · advocacy · town hall · discourse · collective · scrutiny · domain · sphere · forums · accountability · opinion
the publicprivate enterprise
Individually owned business operation
corporations · commercial interests · the market · shareholders · proprietors
public, publish, republic, publication, publicity, publishing, published, publisher, publicly