Phrase guide

public library

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A library provided essentially as a public service rather than as a commercial venture.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a nonprofit library maintained for public use

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: library

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: folkebibliotek — library provided as a public service
  • Dutch: openbare bibliotheek — library provided as a public service
  • Estonian: rahvaraamatukogu — library provided as a public service
  • Estonian: avalik raamatukogu — library provided as a public service
  • Finnish: kirjasto — library provided as a public service
  • Finnish: yleinen kirjasto — library provided as a public service
  • French: bibliothèque publique — library provided as a public service
  • German: öffentliche Bibliothek — library provided as a public service
  • Ancient Greek: δημοσία βιβλιοθήκη (dēmosía bibliothḗkē) — library provided as a public service
  • Hungarian: közkönyvtár — library provided as a public service
  • Latvian: publiskā bibliotēka — library provided as a public service
  • Latvian: sabiedriskā bibliotēka — library provided as a public service
  • Polish: biblioteka publiczna — library provided as a public service
  • Portuguese: biblioteca pública — library provided as a public service
  • Russian: публи́чная библиоте́ка (publíčnaja bibliotéka) — library provided as a public service
  • Russian: обще́ственная библиоте́ка (obščéstvennaja bibliotéka) — library provided as a public service
  • Swedish: folkbibliotek — library provided as a public service
  • Ukrainian: публі́чна бібліоте́ка (publíčna bibliotéka) — library provided as a public service
  • Welsh: llyfrgell gyhoeddus — library provided as a public service