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 often falls to local government agencies.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

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

This is unique public land, Jackson Demonstration State Forest, spanning 50,000 acres.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 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