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• open carry
  open carry

  noun

  the practice of publicly carrying a gun or other weapon that is fully or partially visible.
• open-carry
  open-carry

  verb (used with or without object)

  to openly carry a gun or other weapon in public.

open carry

¹ American  

[oh-puhn kar-ee] / ˈoʊ pən ˈkær i /

noun

1. the practice of publicly carrying a gun or other weapon that is fully or partially visible.

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open-carry ² American  

[oh-puhn-kar-ee] / ˈoʊ pənˈkær i /

verb (used with or without object)

open-carried, open-carrying

1. to openly carry a gun or other weapon in public.

   He open-carried a pistol to his daughter’s school.

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Etymology

Origin of open carry¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Origin of open-carry²

First recorded in 1985–90; open ( def. ) + carry ( def. )

Example Sentences

“The historical record makes unmistakably plain that open carry is part of this Nation’s history and tradition,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

New Mexico is an open carry state, so the governor’s order affects anyone in Bernalillo County who can legally own a gun, with some exceptions.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2023

The state has a long history of allowing open carry of handguns in most public settings.

From Washington Times • Sep. 10, 2023

Instead, lawmakers relaxed regulations, including allowing the open carry of handguns without a license or training.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2023

"De cellar door is open, carry it all in and put it in de back part and nobody ain't never going to know how long it has been in dar."

From The Lock and Key Library The most interesting stories of all nations: American by Hawthorne, Julian