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• open-source
  open-source

  adjective

  pertaining to or denoting software whose source code is available free of charge to the public to use, copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute.
• open source
  open source

  noun

open-source

American  

[oh-puhn-sawrs, -sohrs] / ˈoʊ pənˈsɔrs, -ˈsoʊrs /

adjective

1. Computers. pertaining to or denoting software whose source code is available free of charge to the public to use, copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute.

2. pertaining to or denoting a product or system whose origins, formula, design, etc., are freely accessible to the public.

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open source British  

noun

1. 1. intellectual property, esp computer source code, that is made freely available to the general public by its creators

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare closed source

      open source software

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open-source Scientific  

1. Relating to source code that is available to the public without charge. Open-source code is often enhanced, improved, and adapted for specific purposes by interested programmers, with the revised versions of the code are made available to the public. For example, most of the code in the Linux operating system is open-source.

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Etymology

Origin of open-source

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

This has been partly driven by DeepSeek's decision to make its systems open source, with their inner workings public -- in contrast to the proprietary models sold by OpenAI and other Western rivals.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

That clashes with one of the primary features of open source, namely that anyone can build on it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

He echoed that sentiment Wednesday, saying the company “plan to release increasingly advanced models that push the frontier of intelligence and capabilities, including new open source models.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The briefings compile intelligence from complaints made to Trading Standards by community members and different authorities, as well as intelligence from "regional databases such as Citizens Advice Bureau… Companies House data… and open source research".

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Most of the actionable intelligence the National Security Agency and CIA scoop comes from open source information.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin