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

Three days earlier, Hicks released an open letter urging candidates who did not have a path to victory to withdraw from the race.

From Los Angeles Times

Families of the Chinese passengers published an open letter on Sunday -- the 12th anniversary of the flight's disappearance -- criticising the lack of information they received during the latest search.

From Barron's

A group of staff calling themselves Punks with Purpose published an open letter calling out a toxic culture at Brewdog, laying the blame squarely at the feet of Watt.

From BBC

After more than 100 artists in the film industry signed an open letter criticizing the festival’s silence, Wenders alluded to this phenomenon in a prepared statement at the Berlinale’s closing awards ceremony.

From Salon

“It sounded like someone who has his head in the sand,” former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said of Hicks’ open letter.

From Los Angeles Times