/ Dictionary / Index P publican: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: pub•li•can Pronunciation: (pub'li-kun), [key] — n. a person who owns or manages a tavern; the keeper of a pub. a person who collected public taxes. any collector of taxes, tolls, tribute, or the like. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: publican (Thesaurus) public affairs public assistance Related Content Daily Word Quiz: jovial Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language