public figure
51
3.5
- noun
- /ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪɡjər/
:
figura pública
- Even now, I am struck by the unity and compassion displayed by our public figures in the wake of the tragedy.
- a well-known public figure
- a prominent public figure
- become a public figure
Often that's a public figure or, well, a YouTube.
- Often that's a public figure or, well, a YouTube.
- How do you maintain being a public figure whilst also keeping that peace?
- And I try and help people because I'm a public figure and I've got kids that follow me.
- You can get in places that other, you know, public figures can't.
- The best defense to to speech that you don't like about yourself as a public figure is to develop a thick skin.
- And he's not shy to use them to bribe politicians and and public figures in the free world.
- This judge, had he been a sportscaster or had he been some prominent public figure, would almost certainly have lost his job.
- The negatives, I would say generally yes, but I do think there are people that enjoy being a public figure more than others.
- It's for me, it's really important to to use your platform as a as a public figure to speak on stuff that you consider important.
- OK, what is one thing that you wish that you had known before becoming a public figure?
- I thought maybe at the next attack on a public figure might come in the form of drone technology, some sort of something along those lines.
- We actually tracked down a couple of the people who were trying to troll me at one point, and some of my other colleagues who were quite well known public figures as well.
- They all were public figures with sometimes complicated relationships with their publics and with the idea of representing a race.
- First of all, it's not just I'm a public figure, OK?
Examples
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As a popular musician, she is often considered a public figure and frequently appears in the news.
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And I think as a public figure, you have to be very careful about what you say, because people can have pretty emotional reactions.
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How do you maintain being a public figure whilst also keeping that peace?
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It's for me, it's really important to to use your platform as a as a public figure to speak on stuff that you consider important.
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There comes a time in every public figure's career..
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We got a legitimate hero, a public figure.
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I'm a public figure, after all.
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Nor does it appear to do so for many celebrities and public figures.
Academic text (1997) -
Most presidents have followed his lead by seeking distinguished public figures for the top executive jobs.
Academic text (2002) -
Mr. Dharmeratnam is a relatively well-known public figure and wanted his real name used in publication.
Academic text (2004)
Synonyms
661
4.1
A person who is important or well known
480
2.3
A famous person who many people know and is often an actor or sports player
136
3.7
A famous person from TV, radio, or public life
50
1.0
A person many people know because of their achievements
33
6.6
A famous person often from movies, music, or sports
7
8.1
An important or well known person who others respect
5
4.1
A person who is well known and admired
A person or thing that is very famous and successful, often in entertainment
How Well-Known
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a well-known or recognized person' is directly derivable from combining 'public' (relating to the people) and 'figure' (a prominent person); the phrase literally denotes a person prominent to the public. This compositional structure is common across languages and frequent in English, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Public figure comes from the simple idea of a person who is a figure seen by the public. Imagine a statue or someone on a stage that everyone can see, and that image explains why the phrase means a person who is 'well-known' or recognized by many people.