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

Björn Birnir is the chair of the Mathematics department at UC Santa Barbara, and one of only two math chairs in the system who did not sign the open letter. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

The Independence and Fort Osage School Districts sued LeVota and the county in June, echoing an open letter from 12 Jackson County school districts along the same lines. — Ilana Arougheti july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

In an open letter, former political leaders from Austria, Sweden, New Zealand, Ireland, and more backed this call for support. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026

In December of the same year, MuCEM staffers wrote an open letter – addressed to Costa and posted to the news site Marsactu – which denounced his leadership. — News Desk, Artforum, 2 July 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
• petter

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