# public intellectual

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/public-intellectual
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A well-known, intelligent, learned person whose written works and other social and cultural contributions are recognized not only by academic audiences and readers, but also by many members of society in general.

## Examples

- She is a famous public intellectual who writes about modern society.
- The newspaper invited a well-known public intellectual to share his thoughts on the current political crisis.
- As a prominent public intellectual, she bridges the gap between complex academic theory and the daily concerns of the general population.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.