1
a
of software : having the source code freely available for possible modification and redistribution
an open-source operating system
b
: of, relating to, or promoting open-source software
the open-source movement/community
Instead, they opted for the open-source model, in which computer code is openly shared, allowing programmers to modify, improve and fix the software.Steve Lohr
2
a
: publicly available for use by the community at large
open-source images
The team uses open-source materials such as obituaries in local newspapers and cemetery visits for its count.Brendan Hoffman
b
: relating to or utilizing information that is publicly available
an open-source analysis
Since the advent of the internet, social media and smartphones, open-source intelligence has undergone a revolution as people willingly and publicly post vast amounts of information online. Actors outside of the traditional intelligence community have begun to take notice.Nick Waters

Examples of open-source in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In court filings, prosecutors cite open-source video from Jan. 6, 2021, that allegedly shows Reifschneider in the Upper West Terrace yelling at police, then heading to the east side of the Capitol. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Musk alleges in his suit that the startup’s close relationship with Microsoft has undermined its original mission of creating open-source technology free from undue corporate influence. Rachel Metz, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 This lawsuit claimed that the partnership with Microsoft has led OpenAI away from its initial commitment to open-source development in the field of Artificial General Intelligence. Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2024 Russia has lost thousands of tanks, and upward of 400,000 dead and wounded, with figures regularly posted online and tracked by open-source military intelligence trackers. Peter Suciu, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 These schematics become part of the tools that researchers use, such as open-source libraries of movement data and measurement systems that are meant to provide baseline standards for how human bodies move. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Mar. 2024 Pascal’s spread was partly fueled by Dr. Wirth’s open-source initiatives. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 And why the Russians have, in the estimation of open-source analyst Andrew Perpetua, written off or abandoned 19 BMPs and BTRs in just the last two days. David Axe, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Developers involved in open-source software tools were also recognized during the evening. Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'open-source.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of open-source was in 1957

Cite this Entry

“Open-source.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-source. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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