open carry

noun

US
: the act or practice of carrying a firearm openly in public or the legal right to do so
In Pennsylvania, open carry is generally allowed without a license, but Philadelphia does require a license.Joshua Gillin
The next frontier for gun-rights advocates is "open carry," epitomized last year by protests in which permitted gun owners carried firearms in plain view at Starbucks coffee shops.Patrik Jonsson
Three more states ban concealed carry but not open carry.Hank Johnson and Mitch Seabaugh
often used before another noun
open carry laws/legislation
compare concealed carry

Examples of open carry 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.
Ohio law allows anyone legally permitted to own a gun to open carry without a permit. David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025 Ohio state law allows anyone legally allowed to own a gun to open carry without a permit. Morgan Radford, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2025 Albritton has rejected the idea of passing an open carry bill this year. Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 In March 2024, South Carolina legalized the open carry of firearms without a permit to anyone 18 years of age or older that is not prohibited by law. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for open carry

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open carry was in 1984

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open carry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20carry. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!