public domain

noun

1
: land owned directly by the government
2
: the realm embracing property rights that belong to the community at large, are unprotected by copyright or patent, and are subject to appropriation by anyone

Examples of public domain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The company is working to expand its reach into both commercial and public domains, ensuring the safety of digital interactions across industries. Tony Bradley, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 Yet, there are privacy concerns and ethical considerations for implementing any computer vision solution within a public domain. Nick Herbert, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024 Every actress who played the feline fatale through the years Another over-the-top moment from Brancato and Ferris' draft included a major sequence involving the company's lab rats escaping into the city's public domains. EW.com, 19 July 2024 Flix is one of the largest libraries of public domain animation and live action and over the next year will be doubling the size of its library. Kansas City Star, 10 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for public domain 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'public domain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of public domain was in 1819

Dictionary Entries Near public domain

Cite this Entry

“Public domain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20domain. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

public domain

noun
public do·​main
-dō-ˈmān
1
: land owned directly by the government
2
: the realm or status of property rights that belong to the community at large, are unprotected by copyright or patent, and are subject to appropriation by anyone

More from Merriam-Webster on public domain

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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