open secret

noun

: a supposedly secret but generally known matter

Examples of open secret in a Sentence

It's an open secret that he's been cheating on his wife.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the relatively small world of professional cycling, riders’ contract statuses are often an open secret. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 17 July 2026

The destruction of unsold inventory is an open secret in fashion, even though exposure of the practice inevitably sparks public outrage. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 14 July 2026

Distillation is an open secret among rivals in the US tech sector. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 9 July 2026

But McDaniel said Strauss' behavior had been an open secret for years. — CBS News, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

open secret

noun

: something supposed to be a secret but in fact generally known