What does public in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word public in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use public in French.

The word public in French means public, public, public, general public, audience, public, the civil service, public offering, public money, breach of the peace, disturbance of the peace, bench, public bench, for a general audience, government commissioner, public announcement, public law contract, treasury officer, town crier, danger to the public, public accounts deficit, public service delegation contract, public speaking, public domain, public property, public international law, public law, street lighting, professional writer, writing consultant, consumer electronics, public sector job, in public, in public, public enemy, public equipment, public space, public sphere, public institution, public concern, public health care facility, be a good audience, closed to the public, the general public, the public, mainstream, public hospital, state run hospital, tax inspector, tax auditor, park, public place, public sector, prosecution, public operator, public order, public agency, open to the public, public park, speak in public, public figure, public authority, speak in public, give a speech, public choice prize, recommended retail price, general use product, informed public, well-informed public, desensitized public, target audience, target audience, intended audience, public report, people's choice, public sector, semi-private, group of semi-private companies, alert the general public to a problem, public service, to public acclaim, public phone, enter into the public domain, suitable for all audiences, suitable for all, public transport, work in the public sector, the Treasury Department, treasury, public treasury. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word public

public

adjectif (relatif à la collectivité)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il ne faut pas confondre finances publiques et finances privées.
Public and private finances shouldn't be confused.

public

adjectif (administratif, d'État)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Mon mari travaille dans le secteur public.
My husband works in the public sector.

public, general public

nom masculin (ensemble de la population)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les bureaux ouvrent au public à 9 heures.
The offices open to the public at 9 am.

audience, public

nom masculin (ensemble des spectateurs)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le public a longuement applaudi les acteurs. Quand on est humoriste, il est important de s'adapter à son public.
The audience applauded the actors for a long time. // When you are a comic, it's important to adapt to your public.

the civil service

nom masculin (administration, État) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Après avoir travaillé cinq ans dans le public, mon mari est passé dans le privé.
After working in the public sector for five years, my husband went into the private sector.

public offering

nom masculin (offre financière) (Business)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'appel public à l'épargne s'appelle maintenant offre au public de titres financiers.

public money

nom masculin (argent de l'État)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

breach of the peace, disturbance of the peace

nom féminin (trouble social)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le gouvernement a considéré que cette manifestation était une atteinte à l'ordre public.

bench, public bench

nom masculin (siège urbain) (long seat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Des amoureux s'embrassent sur le banc public.

for a general audience

nom féminin (collection pour tout le monde)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

government commissioner

nom masculin (magistrat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public announcement

nom féminin (communication pour tout le monde)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public law contract

nom masculin (France (contrat pour fonctionnaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

treasury officer

(trésorier, percepteur de l'État) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

town crier

(annonceur public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

danger to the public

nom masculin (familier ([qqn] dangereux pour les autres)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public accounts deficit

nom masculin (solde négatif du secteur public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le déficit public s'accroît d'années en années.

public service delegation contract

nom féminin (contrat de transfert de gestion)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les organismes de sécurité sociale bénéficient d'une délégation de service public.

public speaking

nom masculin (propos tenus devant une audience)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public domain

nom masculin (œuvre : zone libre de droits)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les œuvres de cet auteur sont dans le domaine public.

public property

nom masculin (biens collectifs)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce bois fait partie du domaine public.

public international law

nom masculin (ensemble de règles)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les pays sont soumis au droit international public.

public law

nom masculin (droit gérant les administrations)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

street lighting

nom masculin (lumière urbaine) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette commune utilise des lampadaires solaires pour l'éclairage public.

professional writer, writing consultant

([qqn] écrivant pour les autres)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

consumer electronics

nom masculin (équipement de masse)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'électronique grand public est l'ensemble des appareils utilisant l'électronique à destination du grand public.

public sector job

nom masculin (métier de la fonction publique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les emplois publics sont recherchés en période de crise.

in public

locution adverbiale (devant des inconnus)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

in public

locution adverbiale (au su et vu de tous)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

public enemy

(criminel agissant) (criminal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public equipment

nom masculin (bien financé par l'État)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public space

nom masculin (zone non privée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public sphere

nom masculin (figuré (lieu de débat, d'échanges)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public institution, public concern

nom masculin (administration)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'hôpital est un établissement public.

public health care facility

nom masculin (hôpital)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La Pitié-Salpêtrière est un établissement public de santé.

be a good audience

locution verbale (apprécier facilement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Brigitte est très bon public : elle rigole même aux blagues vaseuses de Tonton Gérard !
Brigitte is a very good audience. She even laughs at Uncle Gerald's terrible jokes.

closed to the public

locution adjectivale (inaccessible au public)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

the general public, the public

nom masculin (tout le monde)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le grand public français découvre cette exposition qui nous vient du Brésil.
It is important for information on government policy to be available to the general public.

mainstream

(pour tous)

(noun as adjective: Describes another noun--for example, "boat race," "dogfood.")
C'est une exposition grand public.
It is a mainstream exhibition.

public hospital, state run hospital

nom masculin (hôpital géré par l'État)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

tax inspector, tax auditor

(contrôleur des impôts)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

park

nom masculin (jardin ouvert au public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les enfants jouent dans le jardin public au bout de la rue.
The children play in the park at the end of the street.

public place

nom masculin (endroit non privé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce château ne se visite pas, ce n'est pas un lieu public.

public sector

nom masculin (contrat passé avec une administration)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

prosecution

nom masculin (parquet, accusation) (law)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le ministère public requiert une peine de dix ans de prison.

public operator

nom masculin (fournisseur de service d'État)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public order

nom masculin (paix sociale, tranquilité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public agency

nom masculin (organisme dépendant de l'État)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

open to the public

locution adjectivale (accessible à tous)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Seule une partie du parking est ouverte au public.

public park

nom masculin (parc ouvert au public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

speak in public

locution verbale (parler devant un auditoire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

public figure

nom masculin ([qqn] connu publiquement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public authority

nom masculin (autorité administrative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Des infrastructures comme la téléphonie mobile, la télévision numérique terrestre ou encore la vaccination sont sous le contrôle des pouvoirs publics.

speak in public, give a speech

locution verbale (parler à une assemblée)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
On a tous le trac avant de prendre la parole en public pour la première fois.

public choice prize

nom masculin (prix décerné par le public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

recommended retail price

nom masculin (prix de vente recommandé) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

general use product

nom masculin (article pour particulier)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

informed public, well-informed public

nom masculin (public de connaisseurs) (population)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

desensitized public

nom masculin (public acceptant les scènes choquantes) (population)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

target audience

nom masculin (clients visés)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le public cible des annonceurs est la ménagère de moins de 50 ans.

target audience, intended audience

nom masculin (personnes à qui s'adresse [qch])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je ne pense pas que je vais suivre cette formation de bureautique car à « public visé », il est écrit « grands débutants », ce qui n'est pas mon cas.

public report

nom masculin (rapport accessible au public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

people's choice

nom féminin (personne choisie par le public)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

public sector

nom masculin (ensemble des administrations)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

semi-private

adjectif (de droit privé mais contrôlé par l'État)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ce groupe financier est semi-public.

group of semi-private companies

nom masculin (ensemble des entreprise semi-publiques)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'ensemble du semi-public a obtenu de bons résultats.

alert the general public to a problem

locution verbale (faire partager une préoccupation)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

public service

nom masculin (administration)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

to public acclaim

locution adverbiale (très applaudi par le public)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

public phone

nom masculin (cabine téléphonique) (colloquial)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

enter into the public domain

locution verbale (devenir libre de droit)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les œuvres du XIXe sont tombées dans le domaine public.

suitable for all audiences, suitable for all

locution adjectivale (film : pour tous, tout âge)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

public transport

nom masculin (transport à l'usage de tous) (UK, uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les transports publics de notre ville sont variés et fonctionnent bien.

work in the public sector

locution verbale (travailler pour le gouvernement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

the Treasury Department

nom masculin (administration des impôts) (US)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

treasury, public treasury

nom masculin (fonds publics)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of public in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Related words of public

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.