Meaning

noun people in general considered as a whole

noun a body of people sharing some common interest

adjective not private; open to or concerning the people as a whole

originThe adjective and noun are derived from Late Middle English publik, publike (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public or public affairs; (noun) a generally observable place or situation”), from Anglo-Norman public, publik, publique, Middle French public, publique, and Old French public (“(adjective) generally observable, public; relating to the general public;…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0