public service

noun

1

: the business of supplying a commodity (such as electricity or gas) or service (such as transportation) to any or all members of a community

2

: a service rendered in the public interest

3

: governmental employment

especially : civil service

Examples of public service in a Sentence

The cost of public services is on the rise.

The station is running antismoking commercials as a public service.

The company is heavily involved in public service.

He works in public service.

She has devoted her life to public service.

Recent Examples on the Web

And if the president refused to step aside, the senator would argue, the consequences for Democrats and Mr. Biden’s own legacy after a half-century of public service would be catastrophic. —Annie Karni, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Biden’s 13-minute address marked not only as his departing words after four years in the nation’s highest office, but also served as a coda to a career of public service that spanned more than half a century. —Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025

The president closed his remarks — and brought to an end his five decades of public service that culminated with his one term as president — with a call to Americans to protect the idea of the nation. —Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025

That is the title of a prestige crime drama set on the Western Isles of Scotland that was launched by the BBC on Tuesday evening on its BBC iPlayer streaming service and BBC Alba, the Scottish Gaelic-language free-to-air channel that the U.K. public service broadcaster co-owns with MG Alba. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

public service

noun

1

: the business of supplying a commodity (as electricity or gas) or service (as transportation) to any or all members of a community

2

: governmental employment

especially : civil service