public sale

public sale — noun

1. an event where items or property are sold to anyone who wants to buy them, often

1.nounB1
Definition

an event where items or property are sold to anyone who wants to buy them, often through a bidding process where the person offering the most money wins

Example

The old farmhouse was sold at a public sale on Saturday to the highest bidder.

passive: was sold at a public sale

Gabriel bought a rare camera at a public sale in Portland for a fair price.

Common collocations
  • at a public sale
  • by public sale
  • public sale of [property/goods]
  • sold by public sale
  • buy at a public sale
  • hold a public sale
  • announce a public sale
Synonyms
  • auction

    the most common method of conducting a public sale; narrower in meaning since auctions can also be private

  • public auction

    essentially identical in meaning; more explicit about the bidding process

  • open sale

    less common; emphasises that anyone may buy without bidding

Antonyms
  • private sale

    a sale limited to selected buyers, often by invitation only

Grammar Patterns

at a public sale

by public sale

public sale of [something]

Usage Note

Often appears in legal and commercial contexts such as foreclosure proceedings, estate liquidations, and government surplus sales. The term implies that anyone may attend and bid, unlike a private sale that is limited to invited buyers.

Common Mistakes

I bought this lamp at a public sale in my neighbor's driveway.
I bought this lamp at a yard sale in my neighbor's driveway.
A 'public sale' usually refers to a formal auction or legal proceeding, not an informal home sale.

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

The phrase combines 'public' (from Latin 'publicus', meaning 'of the people') with 'sale' (from Old English 'sala', meaning 'a selling or handing over of goods'). It has been used in English legal contexts since at least the 1600s to describe property sales open to all prospective buyers, distinct from private treaty sales.

First known use

1641

1641, in the meaning defined above