open-ended

[oh-puhn-en-did]

adjective

1. not having fixed limits; unrestricted; broad.

   an open-ended discussion.

2. allowing for future changes, revisions, or additions.

   open-ended agreements.

3. having no fixed answer.

   an open-ended question.

open-ended

adjective

1. without definite limits, as of duration or amount

   an open-ended contract

2. denoting a question, esp one on a questionnaire, that cannot be answered "yes", "no", or "don't know"

Other Word Forms

• open-endedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of open-ended¹

First recorded in 1815–25; open + end ¹ + -ed ³

Related Words

• unlimited 
• unrestricted