open court

noun

: a court that anyone is allowed to attend
He testified in open court.

Examples of open court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her decision to waive her right to anonymity and face her attackers in open court at the 2024 trial made her one of the 21st century’s most unlikely feminist icons and earned her worldwide respect. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026 In open court, it was revealed that just one of the cases, involving a roof claim of around $30,000, settled for $3 million. J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026 What makes this letter particularly puzzling is the open court case that accuses the NFL of racial discrimination. Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 Fland is among the nation’s best on-ball defenders, while few SEC guards match Lee’s dynamism in the open court. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for open court

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20court. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Legal Definition

open court

noun
1
: a recorded judicial proceeding that is presided over by a judge and attended by the parties and their attorneys and that is convened for the purpose of conducting official business compare in camera
2
: a session of a court that is open to the public
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster