public land

[puhb-lik land] / ˈpʌb lɪk ˈlænd /

NOUN

land that is open to public

Synonyms

WEAK

government land national forest national park national wildlife refuge nature conservancy land unappropriated land

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If nests are found on private land, residents should contact the Forestry Commission, and the Neighbourhood Team in Woking if on public land, a council spokesperson said.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

On public land or highways, responsibility for disposal rests with the local council, if ownership cannot be determined.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

But mostly I long for the open road, those forgotten highways where pavement runs through the quaint towns, weathered landmarks and the millions of acres of public land in the desert.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

In the fall of 2023, a crew of geologists reported that the public land it was looking at in Esmeralda County didn’t seem all that promising.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

“We tracked both sides of the public land along Squaretail Brook, all the way down that hillside to where it runs into the Beal River.”

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden