Home › Technology › Academic Research & Publishing › publication

publication

pub-li-KAY-shun /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

nounB2TOEFLIELTS

generalacademic

The act of making something publicly known; a book, journal, or piece of music issued for public sale.

In academia, it refers to the formal release of research findings or scholarly works, typically in a journal or book, making them accessible to the academic community and wider public.

The story behind the word. The word 'publication' comes from the Latin 'publicatio,' meaning 'a making public.' This, in turn, derives from 'publicare,' meaning 'to make public,' from 'publicus,' meaning 'public.' So, at its core, publication is about making something available to the 'public.' In academia, it's the formal process of sharing research with the wider scholarly community and beyond.

Word relationships

journal: A specific type of periodical publication, often academic.
book: A written or printed work consisting of pages bound together.
issue: A number or set of a periodical.
release: The act of making something available to the public.

concealment: The action of hiding something or preventing it from being known.
suppression: The action of forcibly putting an end to something.

Commonly confused with

manuscript: A 'manuscript' is the submitted text; a 'publication' is the final, printed, and distributed version.

Word family

publish (verb): to prepare and issue (a book, journal, piece of music, etc.) for public sale, distribution, or readership
publisher (noun): a person or company that prepares and issues books, journals, music, or other works for sale

Collocations

academic publication
journal publication
scientific publication
date of publication
new publication

Example sentences

"Achieving publication in a top-tier scientific journal was a significant accomplishment for the young scientist." A researcher celebrating a career milestone.
"The research group aimed for at least three major publications each year to maintain its funding." Discussing the output of a research group.

Memory hook

To make something 'PUBLIC', you need to 'PUBLISH' it. Make Public

When not to use

While 'publication' can refer to any public announcement, in academic contexts, it specifically means the formal act of publishing scholarly work. Don't use it for informal announcements or personal posts.

Fun facts

The concept of 'public domain' for creative works is closely tied to the idea of publication, as works typically enter the public domain a certain number of years after their publication date.

Related words

journal, disseminate

Explore more words

periodical, disclose, promulgate, acclaim, syndicated, disclosure