open-minded
Americanadjective
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having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments.
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unprejudiced; unbigoted; impartial.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of open-minded
First recorded in 1820–30
Explanation
If you're open-minded, you're willing to consider new ideas. An open-minded voter doesn't always stick to his or her political party and instead considers the opinions of candidates from both parties. (Finding an open-minded voter is a bit like trying to find a unicorn. Good luck.) When you've got a serious dilemma — say your two best friends aren't speaking to each other — it's usually helpful to ask an open-minded person for advice. Open-minded people can consider a problem from both sides, without injecting their own opinions or biases, and can often point you in the right direction. Open-minded is first recorded in the 1820s, from the popular figurative meaning of open (think "openhearted").
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.
For several years, my wife, my children and I found a sanctuary that was genuinely welcoming, open-minded and pluralistic.
From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2026
I’m also aiming to be open-minded these days, because it’s just not true anymore that the tech isn’t impressive.
From Slate ● May 24, 2026
However, Borthwick says he is open-minded as he plots his selection to face the Azzurri.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
Another reason is the overall transformation in many Muslim nations, where excesses of radical rule caused widespread revulsion just as a new, more open-minded and globally connected generation grew up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026
Dad said being punk was about being open-minded, and that included giving people the benefit of the doubt, but I wasn’t convinced Selena was trying to be nice.
From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez
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.
