public relations

noun

plural in form but usually singular in construction

often attributive

: the business of inducing the public to have understanding for and goodwill toward a person, firm, or institution

also : the degree of understanding and goodwill achieved

Examples of public relations in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Claire, who always longed to be involved in baseball, expressed interest in the job and was hired as a public relations assistant, remaining in the position until 1975, when he was promoted to vice president of public relations. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Recognize Employees Who Model Values Feature employee accomplishments in internal newsletters and, when applicable, external communications, including public relations. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

The golden rose is the papacy’s oldest public relations tool. — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

With no fair government review, this fight pits individual families against corporations and billionaires with in-house legal teams, powerful lobbyists and endless public relations resources. — Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for public relations

• abbreviations
• abominations
• accelerations
• accommodations
• accumulations
• adjudications
• administrations
• adulterations
• affiliations
• agglomerations
• alienations
• amalgamations

Kids Definition

public relations

noun

1

: the business of creating public goodwill for a person, firm, or institution

2

: the degree of understanding and goodwill achieved