open-source

adjective

ˈō-pən-ˈsȯrs 

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

While markets eventually recovered, DeepSeek’s decision to release its model on an open-source basis ended up being more significant. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

However, DeepSeek's latest positioning places other Chinese open-source models as direct competitors, Su said. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026

On Tuesday, the company began notifying customers about the demise of an open-source software framework, gRPC, integrated into Starlink hardware. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026

Using the open-source image-generating AI protocol ComfyUI, I fine-tune existing models with paintings by artists like Crali and Balla alongside imagery put out by leading defense tech firms. —Simon Denny, Artforum, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for open-source

• counterforce
• intercourse
• nonrecourse
• reinforce
• watercourse
• bourse
• coarse
• course
• force
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse