open letter

noun

: a published letter of protest or appeal usually addressed to an individual but intended for the general public

Examples of open letter in a Sentence

In an open letter to the company, a citizens' group implored company executives to reconsider their decision to close the factory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Later in March, an open letter from seventy-three artists and curators participating in the Biennale implored the organizers not to include Russia, Israel or the United States. —News Desk, Artforum, 14 Apr. 2026

There were academics writing open letters, Hollywood writers striking over contract language, the think-tank reports warning of job displacement. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026

But the open letter illustrates the deep resistance to the deal among many members of Hollywood’s creative community. —Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 Apr. 2026

Jane Fonda, Don Cheadle, Rosanna Arquette, Ben Stiller and Joaquin Phoenix are just a few of the more than 1,000 Hollywood professionals who signed their names on an open letter expressing opposition to the studio merger. —Mason Leib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for open letter

• carburetter
• carburettor
• abettor
• newsletter
• typesetter
• better
• bettor
• debtor
• fetter
• getter
• netter
• petar

Kids Definition

open letter

noun

: a letter (as one addressed to an official) for the public to see and printed in a newspaper or magazine