open market

American  

noun

1. an unrestricted competitive market in which any buyer and seller is free to participate.

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open market British  

noun

1. 1. a market in which prices are determined by supply and demand, there are no barriers to entry, and trading is not restricted to a specific area

   2. ( as modifier )

      open-market value

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Other Word Forms

• open-market adjective

Etymology

Origin of open market

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Retiring at 55 is a worthy goal, but the cost of healthcare on the open market will be a major monthly shock to your system.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

In March, there were eight such events, including the open market at the Glendora station, a night market in Pomona and a violinist who performed for two hours at the 7th and Metro station.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Anthropic feared that releasing this new model on the open market could result in severe consequences for economies, nation-state security and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

When a corporate insider like an executive or a board member buys stock on the open market, that can be interpreted as a signal of confidence in a company’s future direction.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

I watch the piece-worker women march one another to the open market half a day’s walk from where they live.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat