open city

American  

noun

1. a city that, during a war, is officially declared demilitarized and open to occupation, and that will consequently not be defended, in order to spare it, under international law, from bombardment or other military attack.

2. a city or autonomous city-state that gives equal access and status to inhabitants and visitors without regard to religious, ethnic, racial, or national affiliation.

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Etymology

Origin of open city

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Before that, he pushed to open city commission meetings with a satanic invocation and erected a Festivus pole at the Florida Capitol to protest a Nativity scene.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2022

Essential services including hotels, supermarkets and pharmacies will however remain open, city officials said as they announced the measures at a press conference on Saturday.

From Reuters • Jul. 9, 2022

Quartz also mentioned one open city proposal, which would have the coin serve as a reward for people who call to report rideshare scooters left laying around.

From The Verge • May 16, 2022

“It was a very open city, open to diverse lifestyles and diverse communities and not only specific to race, but also sexuality and gender and class.”

From New York Times • Oct. 6, 2021

He saw an open city growing among the hills.

From Perchance to Dream by Stockham, Richard