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

The buck, an incredible nontypical photographed in velvet, was an open secret among locals and public-land hunters in western Wyoming and northeast Utah. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026

Analysts said that the revelation by Washington confirmed an open secret but the timing of the announcement risked exacerbating tensions with Beijing and the risk of a weapons race in space. — CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

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

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