Meaning

(chiefly UK, Ireland) The landlord (manager or owner) of a public house (“a bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging; a pub”)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly UK, Ireland) The landlord (manager or owner) of a public house (“a bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging; a pub”).
2. (Commonwealth, by extension) The manager or owner of a hotel.
3. (Ancient Rome, historical) A tax collector, especially one working in Judea and Galilee during New Testament times (1st century C.E.) who was generally regarded as sinful for extorting more tax than was due, and as a traitor for serving the Roman Empire.
4. (by extension, archaic) Any person who collects customs duties, taxes, tolls, or other forms of public revenue.
5. One regarded as extorting money from others by charging high prices.
6. A person excommunicated from the church; an excommunicant or excommunicate; also, a person who does not follow a Christian religion; a heathen, a pagan.

Example Sentences

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, / The publican 'e up an 'sez, 'We serve no red-coats here.'

Matthevv vvhiche vvas other vvyſe alſo called Leui, beyng of a Puplican made an Apoſtle, firſt of all others compoſed and vvrote in Jevvrye, the ghoſpell of Chriſte in the Hebrue tounge, […]

[T]he Publicans, that is to ſaye, the cuſtomers and takers vp of tolles, […]

Hovv like a favvning Publican he lookes.

[I]f he [a brother who trespasses against one] neglect to heare the Church, let him be vnto thee as an heathen man, and a Publicane.

[T]here was a man named Zacheus, which was the cheefe among the Publicanes, and he was rich.

The provinces groaned at once under all the severity of publick imposition, and the rapaciousness of private usury. They were overrun by publicans, farmers of the taxes, agents, confiscators, usurers, bankers, those numerous and insatiable bodies, which always flourish in a burthened and complicated revenue.

Now, Mrs. Varden, […] believing, moreover, that the publicans coupled with sinners in Holy Writ were veritable licensed victuallers; was far from being favourably disposed towards her visitor.

Word Forms

• publicans
• publicane
• puplican

Synonyms for publican

Related Words

When Should You Use Publican?

Use publican when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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