Basic Details
Word: Public
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: For everyone to use or know about, not private. As a noun, the public means ordinary people in general.
Synonyms: common, open, communal
Antonyms: private
How to Spell Public
Syllables: pub - lic
Tricky part: Public ends in ic with no k. Its adverb is publicly, not publically, one of the few ic words that takes ly directly.
Watch out for: publik, pubilc, puplic
Memory tip: Public ends like music and magic: a short ic and no k.
Idioms and Phrases
- in public: where other people can see or hear Example: "Please do not argue with your brother in public."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The public library opens at nine.
Example 2: Our town has a new public toilet near the market.
Example 3: The results will be made public on Monday.
Fun Fact
Public comes from the Latin publicus, of the people, the same root that gives republic, the thing of the people.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word 'public' as used in the sentence:
The public park near our school has a new jogging track and a reading corner.
a) shared
b) private
c) common
d) open
Show answer
b) private. A public park is for everyone; a private one belongs to a few.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
pubblic
a) u
b) l
c) b
d) c
Show answer
c) b. Public has one b, the same as publish.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the correctly spelt word:
1. public 2. stadiem 3. hospitel 4. musium
a) open to or shared by all people
b) a building showing objects of history or art
c) a large sports ground with rows of seats
d) a place where sick people are treated
Show answer
a) open to or shared by all people. Hospital ends in al, stadium ends in ium, and museum has an e before the u.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A public holiday is a day off for ____.
a) the prime minister
b) one family only
c) everyone in the country
d) teachers only
Show answer
c) everyone in the country
2. To make a secret public is to ____.
a) let everyone know it
b) forget it at once
c) keep it safely hidden
d) write it in code
Show answer
a) let everyone know it
