Public means relating to all the people in a community or country, rather than to private individuals or specific groups. A public park belongs to everyone and anyone can visit it, unlike your backyard, which is private. Public schools are funded by taxes and open to all students in an area, while private schools charge tuition and can choose who attends.

When something is public, it's open and visible to everyone. If you make a statement in public, you're speaking where anyone can hear you. When a company “goes public,” it starts selling shares that anyone can buy. Public libraries, public transportation, and public beaches all serve the entire community.

The word also describes things done by or for the government. Public officials work for the government and serve citizens. Public policy refers to laws and decisions that affect everyone in society.

The public can mean people in general: “The museum is now open to the public.” Sometimes people talk about the public interest, meaning what's good for society as a whole rather than just a few people.

The opposite of public is private. Your diary is private, your thoughts are private, and your home is private. But when you step into a public space or share something publicly, you're entering a realm that belongs to everyone else, too.