: organized to allow for contingencies: such as
a
: permitting additional debt to be incurred under the original indenture subject to specified conditions
an open-end mortgage
b
: having a fluctuating capitalization of shares that are issued or redeemed at the current net asset value or at a figure in fixed ratio to this
an open-end investment company
compare closed-end

Examples of open-end 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.
But the United States will thrive only if Washington recognizes the danger of so many intersecting national fault lines and neutralizes these risks through patient and open-ended diplomacy. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 Gold mining company shares can be purchased individually, through open-end mutual funds, or through ETFs. Bob Carlson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 Then Stafford’s wife, Kelly, left their future in the NFL open-ended in a brief comment on her ‘Timeout’ podcast. Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025 One of the threads that was left sort of open-ended was Kimberly’s love life, with Eli’s reappearance, and then the introduction of this new character, Noah. Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 23 Jan. 2025 Such unclear and open-ended standards would probably breed risk aversion in operations and analysis among IC staffers. Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025 Under state law, plaintiffs can seek damages for broad and open-ended claims such as a failure to warn of a danger, false advertising or creating a public nuisance. David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 The list includes one open-end mutual fund, one closed-end mutual fund, and one ETF that hold SpaceX stock. Joel Shulman, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 In an interview with CNN last week, al-Golani spoke about how Syria should be run and addressed his earlier comments about wanting strict Islamic rule—while leaving open-ended what his role in post-Assad Syria will be. Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open-end was in 1917

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-end. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

open-end

adjective
: organized to allow for contingencies: as
a
: permitting additional debt to be incurred under the original debt instrument subject to specified conditions see also open-end mortgage at mortgage
b
: having fluctuating capitalization of shares that are issued or redeemed at the current net asset value or at a figure in fixed ratio to this
an open-end investment company
compare closed-end
c
: calling for the filling by a particular contractor of all government needs for a specific product during a specified period
an open-end contract
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