open enrollment

noun

1
a
chiefly US : the voluntary enrollment of a student in a public school other than the one assigned on the basis of residence
Carnegie Vanguard High would continue to offer open enrollment to students from across the district and would still likely offer transportation to all its students.Shelby Webb
b
chiefly US : enrollment on demand as a student in an institution of higher learning irrespective of formal qualifications
Open enrollment, long the hallmark of the community college, may soon be a thing of the past.Rick Diguette
2
chiefly US : a period of time during which someone can join something (such as a health insurance plan) as a member or participant : a period of time during which a person can enroll in something
Just one in four people who buy their own insurance or who are uninsured could name the correct deadline (December 15) for open enrollment, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month.Dylan Scott

Examples of open enrollment in a Sentence

Many voters support open enrollment. the city's open enrollment policy Employees can sign up for new benefits during open enrollment.
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.
Try leveraging gamification during open enrollment, engagement surveys and change management initiatives. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 Obamacare enrollment: The bill ends open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act a month earlier. Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 5 June 2025 What To Know The index scored states based on the availability of charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling and open enrollment policies. Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025 Medicare Advantage open enrollment is available from Jan. 1 through March 31. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open enrollment

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of open enrollment was in 1920

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Cite this Entry

“Open enrollment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20enrollment. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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