Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Partially but not entirely open to the use of the public.
  • adjective Partially but not totally owned by the government.
  • adjective Open to the knowledge and judgment of only a part of the public.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Somewhat, but not entirely, public

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective having some of the features of public institution

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

semi- +‎ public

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Examples

  • (I use "semipublic" simply because given by a number and not in a private house) the favors are very simple, but at special cotillons or at those danced at private houses they are extremely elaborate and costly.

    The Complete Bachelor Manners for Men Walter Germain

  • Either way: Ouch. the kind of semipublic laundry-airing that can turn aggrieved spouses into enraged ones and friends into embarrassed spectators.

    Clipmarks | Live Clips 2009

  • And as the age of online-social-network users creeps up, it overlaps more with the age of divorce-lawyer users, resulting in the kind of semipublic laundry-airing that can turn aggrieved spouses into enraged ones and friends into embarrassed spectators.

    The Indiana Law Blog 2009

  • Other story lines involve the Democratic gubernatorial primary in which Kane is playing games with both the slobby and corrupt old incumbent and a chipper young challenger Jeff Hephner, who talks like a sincere man of the people and has an insatiable appetite for risky sex in semipublic places.

    Real Monsters and Fairy Tales Nancy deWolf Smith 2011

  • An increase to ¥1.8 trillion in guarantees for the semipublic Innovation Network Corporation should encourage the partnership to invest in companies seeking to exploit yen strength through overseas mergers and acquisitions, according to the government.

    Japan Cabinet Approves Strong-Yen Plan Andrew Monahan 2011

  • The event could mark an opportunity for Albanese to engage with senior officials in a semipublic forum, coming about eight months after Chinese authorities surprised Rio Tinto by detaining four of its employees amid widespread criticism of the company's activity.

    Business Watch 2010

  • The event could mark an opportunity for Albanese to engage with senior officials in a semipublic forum, coming about eight months after Chinese authorities surprised Rio Tinto by detaining four of its employees amid widespread criticism of the company's activity.

    Business Watch 2010

  • The event could mark an opportunity for Tom Albanese to engage with senior Chinese officials in a semipublic forum, coming about eight months after Chinese authorities surprised Rio Tinto by detaining four of its employees last July amid widespread criticism of the company's activity in its largest single market.

    Rio Tinto CEO to Attend China Conference James T. Areddy 2010

  • Adding to the sense of unreality was a semipublic spat Wednesday between U.S.

    Golf Looks for Its Lost Bearings 2010

  • The event could mark an opportunity for Tom Albanese to engage with senior Chinese officials in a semipublic forum, coming about eight months after Chinese authorities surprised Rio Tinto by detaining four of its employees last July amid widespread criticism of the company's activity in its largest single market.

    Rio Tinto CEO to Attend China Conference James T. Areddy 2010

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