public official
noun
: public officer
specifically
: a person holding a public office the nature of which requires that in order for the person to prevail in a defamation action he or she must show actual malice on the part of the defendant compare public figure
Cite this Entry
“Public official.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/public%20official. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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