public interest
The term "public interest" signifies the well-being or welfare of the general public and is often prioritized in policy-making and community decisions.
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Definition
B2General
(formal)The welfare or well-being of the general public.
Example
- The new policy was designed with the public interest in mind.
- Journalists often argue that their investigations serve the public interest.
C1Politics
(formal)Matters affecting the community at large and prioritized in governmental decision-making.
Example
- Legislation must balance private rights with the public interest.
- Public interest groups lobbied for environmental protections.
C1Sociology
(academic)The collective well-being and rights of society considered as a priority in social policies.
Example
- Social programs are often justified on the grounds of serving the public interest.
- Public interest can sometimes conflict with individual rights.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "public interest":
special interestin the interest of justicelegitimate interestpublic servicevested interestconflict of interestcommon goodspecial interest grouppublic goodgeneral public