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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 tales shared on the show were adaptations of public domain fairy tales, urban legends and short stories that were brought to life by an impressive young cast that included Ross Hull, Daniel DeSanto and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Public domain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20domain. Accessed 23 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
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public domain
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