Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • open plan
    open plan
    noun
    a floor plan without fully enclosed spaces for distinct rooms.
  • open-plan
    open-plan
    adjective
    having no or few dividing walls between areas

open plan

American  

noun

  1. a floor plan without fully enclosed spaces for distinct rooms.


open-plan British  

adjective

  1. having no or few dividing walls between areas

    an open-plan office floor

"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 plan

First recorded in 1935–40

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.

See Examples For:

The main living space features an open plan that flows nicely from the living room to the dining area and sleek kitchen, which features a 14-foot island, quartz countertops, and luxe appliances.

From MarketWatch May 26, 2026

"It was incredible. The master bedroom was absolutely enormous and had a balcony and an open plan bathroom, you could see over the sea."

From BBC Dec. 26, 2024

Both autistic and deaf people also object to visual clutter, harsh lighting and a feeling of personal vulnerability in an open plan.

From Scientific American Mar. 20, 2023

Five bedrooms, six baths, “thrilling panoramic views in all directions” from floor-to-ceiling arched windows, expansive open plan living and dining rooms, den, custom kitchen; 5,508 square feet.

From Washington Times Feb. 9, 2023

It helps to start with a neutral base — what she calls “nothing colors” — especially in an open plan.

From Seattle Times Sep. 1, 2022

The biggest set is the interior of the police headquarters – an open-plan office with personal effects on each of the desks and boards of photographs and details of the fictional cases they're working on.

From BBC Aug. 26, 2026

All over the world, millions of people have been doing something in private that’s now spilling into public spaces, on our sidewalks and in our open-plan offices alike.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 24, 2026

In addition to the open-plan kitchen and living area, the home also boasts a wood-paneled library, a beautiful solarium, a playroom, and a screening room that comes complete with its own bar.

From MarketWatch Dec. 15, 2025

Large open-plan areas with lots of natural light to create an uplifting environment.

From BBC Aug. 8, 2025

Gaskill ushered me out of the door and into the main, open-plan part of the office.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training