open letter

American  

noun

1. a letter, often of protest or criticism, addressed to a specific person, but intended to be brought to public attention.

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open letter British  

noun

1. a letter, esp one of protest, addressed to a person but also made public, as through the press

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Other Word Forms

• open-letter
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of open letter

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

open letter

On Monday, Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant wrote an open letter to customers, sharing sympathies with those sickened and promising the company will continue to share what it knows.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Her name as a possible presidential nominee was first put forward in an open letter signed by sixteen prominent Hungarians, including the inventor of the Rubik's Cube, Erno Rubik.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

The lawyer said the defendant had written an open letter to President Tinubu expressing those concerns.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

It’s built into enough of a mystery that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, wrote an open letter to McConnell on Wednesday requesting that he update Kentuckians on the status of his health.

From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2026

It should, by all rights, be called the Farewell Letter, for it was in form and tone an open letter to the American people, telling them they were now on their own.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis