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public service

/ˌpʌblɪk ˌsʌrvəs/
/ˈpʌblɪk ˈsʌvɪs/
IPA guide

Other forms: public services

A public service is something the government provides to citizens. Things like fire departments, schools, and court systems are all considered public services. People who want to help the community go into public service.

Almost every public service fulfills an essential need of the people who live in a city, town, or state. These include water systems, law enforcement, roads and bridges, and ambulances. Public services are just what the term sounds like: vital services for the public. Most people agree that public services, which are generally funded by taxes and fees, should be available to all people.

Definitions of public service
  1. noun
    a service that is performed for the benefit of the public or its institutions
    synonyms: community service
    see moresee less
    type of:
    service
    an act of help or assistance
  2. noun
    employment within a government system (especially in the civil service)
    see moresee less
    types:
    minister
    the job of a head of a government department
    cabinet minister
    the job of a senior minister who is a member of the cabinet
    type of:
    employment, work
    the occupation for which you are paid
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