1
a
of software : having the source code freely available for possible modification and redistribution
an open-source operating system
b
: of, relating to, or promoting open-source software
the open-source movement/community
Instead, they opted for the open-source model, in which computer code is openly shared, allowing programmers to modify, improve and fix the software.Steve Lohr
2
a
: publicly available for use by the community at large
open-source images
The team uses open-source materials such as obituaries in local newspapers and cemetery visits for its count.Brendan Hoffman
b
: relating to or utilizing information that is publicly available
an open-source analysis
Since the advent of the internet, social media and smartphones, open-source intelligence has undergone a revolution as people willingly and publicly post vast amounts of information online. Actors outside of the traditional intelligence community have begun to take notice.Nick Waters

Examples of open-source in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Godot, a free and open-source game engine, leans in that direction with powerful, no-cost 2D and 3D development tools. PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 Ukraine, the United States, NATO, and open-source satellites may not be able to differentiate whether Russia is transporting warheads for maintenance or security—or to a military base from which they might be launched. William M. Moon, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024 The company argues that American leadership in open-source AI is both economically advantageous and crucial for global security. Tharin Pillay, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024 This view is built on standardized telemetry from diverse open-source sources. Tom Wilkie, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for open-source 

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of open-source was in 1957

Cite this Entry

“Open-source.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-source. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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