The public may be backward! (5)

I believe the answer is:

civic

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'the public' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for civic that I've seen before include "Relating to a city or town" , "Relating to citizens" , "This centre of town" , "Relating to citizenship or public affairs" , "Relating to a city/town" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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