English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From public +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈpʌblɪkli/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adverb

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publicly (comparative more publicly, superlative most publicly)

  1. In public, openly, in an open and public manner.
    criticize someone publicly
    publicly announce something
  2. By, for, or on behalf of the public.
    publicly available

Usage notes

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  • publicly is more than 25 times more common than publically.[1] Over the last 100 years, the relative frequency of publically has been increasing.[1] publically is covered in Merriam-Webster[2] and Collins.[3] publicly is unusual in so far as -ic adjectives usually form adverbs by adding –ally.[4]

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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Further reading

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Scots

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Early Modern English publiquely.

Adverb

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publicly (not comparable)

  1. officially, in the presence of public representatives or on behalf the public
    • 1858, Alexander Crawford Lindsay, quoting Lord Edzell, Lives of the Lindsays[1], page 388:
      Albeit I have stayit here in Edinburgh ane year and three months bygane, craving ever to be tryit of the unhappy slaughter of my umquhile Lord of Spynie, whereof I protest before God and your Majesty I am maist innocent, my Lord of Crawford will neither call me (prosecute me) therefor, nor stay, baith privately and publicly, yea in face of your Majesty's honourable Privy Council, to calumniate me.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  2. openly, in the presence of other people

References

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