noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
public execution
Literal meaning: a state-sanctioned execution carried out in front of an audience. Historically associated with punishments such as beheadings or hangings in public squares.
中世ヨーロッパでは公開処刑が娯楽として見られていたこともあった。
In medieval Europe, public executions were sometimes viewed as entertainment.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
public embarrassment; public shaming
Colloquial figurative use: a situation where someone is humiliated or harshly criticized in front of others, often online or in a social setting. The する form means to subject someone to such public shaming.
彼の失言はSNSで公開処刑された。
His gaffe was publicly shamed on social media.
あのプレゼンの失敗はまさに公開処刑だった。
That presentation failure was a total public embarrassment.