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 In July 2023 the ATF issued an open letter to FFL and gun shops clarifying how to legally and safely store firearms for individuals. Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2023 Feig’s donation comes less than a month after MPTF president and CEO issued an open letter to the industry calling for greater support for below-the-line professionals amid the writers and actors strike. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023 Dozens of European politicians have penned an open letter to the Nobel Foundation, recommending the peace prize be awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the wake of the Russian war. Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2023 Miller also cited an open letter published on LitHub in August, calling on the Pulitzers to recognize literature by noncitizens. Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 In the open letter, alongside questions about the apocalyptic potential of artificial intelligence was one that reflects on the sectors of government and industry that Musk has come to shape. Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023 Later that month, there was an open letter signed by more than 350 of them — executives, researchers, and engineers working in AI. Lorena O'Neil, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2023 The open letter urged lawmakers around the globe to consider regulations that require transparency into training datasets and consent of rights holders before using data for training. Emilia David, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023 Watch on January 2021 Victoria wrote an open letter to her future self for British Vogue, much like her letter to her 18-year-old self. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'open letter.' 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

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open letter was in 1898

Dictionary Entries Near open letter

Cite this Entry

“Open letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20letter. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on open letter

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