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Synonyms

open-minded

American  
[oh-puhn-mahyn-did] / ˈoʊ pənˈmaɪn dɪd /

adjective

  1. having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments.

  2. unprejudiced; unbigoted; impartial.


open-minded British  

adjective

  1. having a mind receptive to new ideas, arguments, etc; unprejudiced

"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

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").

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