1
a
of software : having the source code freely available for possible modification and redistribution
an open-source operating system
b
: of, relating to, or promoting open-source software
the open-source movement/community
Instead, they opted for the open-source model, in which computer code is openly shared, allowing programmers to modify, improve and fix the software.Steve Lohr
2
a
: publicly available for use by the community at large
open-source images
The team uses open-source materials such as obituaries in local newspapers and cemetery visits for its count.Brendan Hoffman
b
: relating to or utilizing information that is publicly available
an open-source analysis
Since the advent of the internet, social media and smartphones, open-source intelligence has undergone a revolution as people willingly and publicly post vast amounts of information online. Actors outside of the traditional intelligence community have begun to take notice.Nick Waters

Examples of open-source in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Getting there will require a policy strategy that favors technological neutrality, harnesses open-source software, prioritizes funding for algorithm and application development research, and has a low barrier of access. Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025 Customers will choose the best technology stack for running the world’s most popular commercial applications and open-source models. Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 Another key aspect of Bananatex is its open-source nature, designed to be shared with others to offer a viable alternative to synthetic materials that dominate the bag industry. Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025 America can become the global leader and set standards by building open-source models that everyone uses. MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open-source

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of open-source was in 1957

Cite this Entry

“Open-source.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-source. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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