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

Medical technicalities aside, Bonior says Ye's open letter is a start in repairing the damage caused by his comments, widely viewed as antisemitic. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, apologized for previous offensive remarks he’s made in an open letter, full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal on Monday. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026

Earlier this month, the Air Line Pilots Association published an open letter to the airline’s leading creditors, urging them to support the company’s reorganization and strongly opposing its liquidation. —David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026

Hundreds of millionaires and billionaires released an open letter in time for the World Economic Forum, calling on leaders attending the conference to fight raging wealth inequality with taxes. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 21 Jan. 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