Open or available to all people, or relating to ordinary people in general rather than to the government or a private group.
From Latin *publicus* (also *poplicus*), meaning 'of the people' or 'common'. It came through Old French *public* into English, keeping the idea of something shared by everyone.
Public and *people* are distant cousins: both go back to old roots about 'the people' as a group. When something is 'public', it’s almost like it belongs to a huge, messy family that includes everyone.
The concept of 'the public' has historically excluded many women and marginalized people from political and civic life, treating them as belonging to the private sphere. Language about 'public opinion' and 'public life' often assumed a male default citizen.
When referring to 'the public,' be aware that different groups experience public spaces and institutions differently; specify which communities you mean when relevant. Avoid assuming a single, uniform public perspective.
["community","general population","wider audience"]
Women and gender-diverse people have expanded the meaning of 'public' through activism, organizing, and scholarship that insists on their full civic presence.
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