Synonyms

public policy

American

[puhb-lik pol-uh-see] / ˈpʌb lɪk ˈpɒl ə si /

noun

1. the body of laws and other measures that affect the general public.
  
  These officeholders are creating public policy on important issues including affordable housing and the environment.
2. the underlying principles, values, or objectives that inform these laws and other measures: In a secular state, no religion can become the basis of public policy.
  
  The Institute participates in shaping public debate and public policy through inquiry and dialogue.
  In a secular state, no religion can become the basis of public policy.
Law. the principle that injury to the public good or public order constitutes a basis for declaring an act or transaction illegal or invalid.

The principle of public policy requires that we judge the tendency of the contract at the time when it was entered into.

Etymology

Origin of public policy

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Millions of Americans choose to earn supplemental income on DoorDash because of the unique flexibility it provides. This rule respects that choice,” said Max Rettig, vice president of global public policy at DoorDash.

From The Wall Street Journal

Three Democrats — former Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell and hedge fund founder Tom Steyer — and two Republicans — conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — are within 4 percentage points of one another, according to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California survey.

From Los Angeles Times

University of Toronto public policy expert Drew Fagan said Carney was wise to pursue other markets, calling for a strategy that seeks to do "more elsewhere, when there's an opportunity."

From Barron's

“The bottom line is the numbers don’t come close to adding up,” said Kent Smetters, an economics and public policy professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

From The Wall Street Journal

The state faces a projected shortfall of 5,000 doctors by 2030, according to the Cicero Institute, a public policy organization.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023