Synonyms

open market

American

noun

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

open market British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

open-market

adjective

Etymology

Origin of open market

First recorded in 1760–70

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.

The 2026 $10 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025 emphasizes the premium value that can be put on a popular NBA franchise in the open market.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

The report does not specify how much rent is paid on the princesses' palace property, but the level is meant to be 60% of the open market rate.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Insurance on the open market is, as you rightly point out, significantly more expensive than employer-sponsored coverage, and ACA premiums can be volatile.

From MarketWatch • May 30, 2026

Many investors received fewer shares than they wanted or nothing at all, forcing them to buy stock in the open market.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Mornings free, Mother trusts me to shop at the open market.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023