# publicly

/ˈpəbɫɪkɫi/ (US) · /pˈʌblɪkli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/publicly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. openly

adverb · CEFR B1

in a way that is not secret, so that anyone can see or hear what is happening.

For teachers: in an open manner that is visible or audible to the general public rather than in private.

- The company director publicly apologized for the mistake during the news conference.
- Although the two politicians disagreed in private, they continued to support the project publicly to maintain party unity.

Usage: often follows verbs of communication like 'speak', 'announce', or 'admit'.

### 2. by the government

adverb · CEFR B2 · Academic

done or paid for by the government or a community for everyone to use.

For teachers: by, for, or on behalf of the community, often relating to government funding or oversight.

- The new park is publicly funded, so it is free for everyone to visit.
- The report argued that publicly owned utilities often provide more reliable service than those managed by private corporations.

Usage: frequently modifies adjectives like 'funded', 'owned', or 'held'.

## Examples

- The company publicly apologized for the mistake.
- The politician refused to speak publicly about the scandal until the investigation was complete.
- While the two nations had been negotiating in secret for months, they only publicly announced the trade agreement after the final signatures were secured.

---

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.