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

Terry is a successful and sleazy Hollywood producer whose sexuality is a bit of an open secret, as is his predilection for younger men. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026

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

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