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.

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

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

To the west lies the outskirts of Death Valley National Park; to the east, millions of acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management — acreage collectively owned by all of us.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Mr. Brown gives short shrift to Roosevelt’s unparalleled record on the conservation of public land.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

It also wants to use public land for wind and solar projects which would then generate income for communities.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

“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