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.

---

open letter British  

noun

1. a letter, esp one of protest, addressed to a person but also made public, as through the press

---

Other Word Forms

• open-letter
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of open letter

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

In February, Botstein released an open letter on campus, saying his interactions with Epstein were strictly for the purpose of fundraising.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Victims' families penned an open letter in December urging Albanese to "immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the rapid rise of antisemitism in Australia".

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Abrams and Damon Lindelof, have signed an open letter calling for regulators to block the deal, saying it “would reduce the number of major U.S. film studios to just four.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

Abrams and Kristen Stewart have signed an open letter asking California Atty.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

It should, by all rights, be called the Farewell Letter, for it was in form and tone an open letter to the American people, telling them they were now on their own.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis