open-source
/ˈəʊpən ˌsɔːs/
"open-source" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“open-source” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 11
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of or relating to software where the source code is freely available and licensed in a manner that permits modification and redistribution.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | open-source |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| IPA | /ˈəʊpən ˌsɔːs/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “open-source” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for open-source is 11 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈəʊpən ˌsɔːs/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for open-source, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: See open source. The correct English form is open-source, spelled O-P-E-N---S-O-U-R-C-E.
Definition
- 1Of or relating to software where the source code is freely available and licensed in a manner that permits modification and redistribution.
- 2Describing any product whose composition or method of manufacturing is public knowledge and not proprietary.
- 3Relying on publicly available information (open sources).
Etymology
See open source.
Antonyms
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "open-source"?
What does "open-source" mean?
How do you pronounce "open-source"?
What is the origin of the word "open-source"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “open-source”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is O-P-E-N---S-O-U-R-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈəʊpən ˌsɔːs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.