publicity

From French publicité, From Medieval Latin pūblicitātem, accusative singular of pūblicitās, from Latin pūblicus (“public, general”).

Morphologically public +‎ -ity

• Rhymes: -ɪsɪti

publicity (usually uncountable, plural publicities)

1. Advertising or other activity designed to rouse public interest in something.
   • 1963 February, “Nobody runs this railway, mate”, in Modern Railways, page 73:

     Any publicity, runs the axiom, is good publicity.

2. Public interest attracted in this way.
3. The condition of being the object of public attention.
4. The quality of being public, not private.
   • 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, OCLC 3174108:

     Amelia's gentle eyes, too, had been fixed anxiously on the pair, whose conduct had so chafed the jealous General; but when Rebecca entered her box, she flew to her friend with an affectionate rapture which showed itself, in spite of the publicity of the place; for she embraced her dearest friend in the presence of the whole house, at least in full view of the General's glass, now brought to bear upon the Osborne party.