open market

American  

noun

1. an unrestricted competitive market in which any buyer and seller is free to participate.

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open market British  

noun

1. 1. a market in which prices are determined by supply and demand, there are no barriers to entry, and trading is not restricted to a specific area

   2. ( as modifier )

      open-market value

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Other Word Forms

• open-market adjective

Etymology

Origin of open market

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

When a corporate insider like an executive or a board member buys stock on the open market, that can be interpreted as a signal of confidence in a company’s future direction.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

While the latest purchase was small relative to the number of shares outstanding, it was Alber’s first on the open market since joining the board in November 2021.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

And then, the sea change around NIL meant that an enterprising coach like Underwood could suddenly bid for Europe’s highly advanced teenagers on the open market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

All the sales were conducted on the open market.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Mornings free, Mother trusts me to shop at the open market.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai