/ Dictionary / Index P public domain: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: pub'lic domain' Pronunciation: [key] — Law. Law. the status of a literary work or an invention whose copyright or patent has expired or that never had such protection. land owned by the government. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. public defender public enemy Related Content Daily Word Quiz: nefarious Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language