public interest

SEE SYNONYMS FOR public interest ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the welfare or well-being of the general public; commonwealth: health programs that directly affect the public interest.

appeal or relevance to the general populace: a news story of public interest.

Origin of public interest

First recorded in 1670–80

OTHER WORDS FROM public interest

public-interest, adjective

Words nearby public interest

public health, public health inspector, public holiday, public house, public housing, public interest, public-interest group, public-interest law, public international law, publicist, publicity

Example sentences from the Web for public interest

Hunt, however, was resistant to the public-interest argument.
Lord David Puttnam Saves BSkyB|Clive Irving|July 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
There was no public-interest justification for what they did.
The Intrusive British Press||July 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Shoma Chaudhury is executive editor of Tehelka, a public-interest newsmagazine in India.
Mamata Banerjee, India's Political Superwoman|Shoma Chaudhury|May 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Shoma Chaudhury is executive editor of Tehelka, a public-interest news magazine in India.
Gandhi Family Feud|Shoma Chaudhury|April 12, 2009|DAILY BEAST