open enrollment
Americannoun
-
enrollment at a public school of choice rather than compulsory assignment to a particular school because of where one lives.
Etymology
Origin of open enrollment
First recorded in 1960–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You can switch back to traditional Medicare during the annual open enrollment period, but outside of an initial window at age 65 you are not guaranteed the ability to buy a Medigap policy.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
“While open enrollment in Idaho has ended, the full impact of affordability concerns will not be known for many months,” said Pat Kelly, CEO of Idaho’s marketplace.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 24, 2026
People could still sign up for plans on the federal exchange through Thursday, and some states have extended their open enrollment through the end of the month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
Now, open enrollment for next year’s plans is well under way.
From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2025
Oakland’s open enrollment process allowed families to apply to any school in the district, and Oakland High was a popular choice.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
