Definition of OPENNESS

openness

Plural: opennesses

Noun

  • without obstructions to passage or view
    • "the openness of the prairies"
  • characterized by an attitude of ready accessibility (especially about one's actions or purposes); without concealment; not secretive
  • willingness or readiness to receive (especially impressions or ideas)
  • Accommodating attitude or opinion, as in receptivity to new ideas, behaviors, cultures, peoples, environments, experiences, etc., different from the familiar, conventional, traditional, or one's own.
  • The degree to which a person, group, organization, institution, or society exhibits this liberal attitude or opinion.
  • Lack of secrecy; candour, transparency.
  • The degree of accessibility to view, use, and modify in a shared environment with legal rights generally held in common and preventing proprietary restrictions on the right of others to continue viewing, using, modifying and sharing.
  • The degree to which a system operates with distinct boundaries across which exchange occurs capable of inducing change in the system while maintaining the boundaries themselves.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English *opennesse, from Old English openness (“openness, publicity”), equivalent to open + -ness. Cognate with Old High German offannussi (“disclosure, revelation, openness”).

Synonyms

approachability, nakedness, open-mindedness, receptiveness, receptivity

Antonyms

closeness

Scrabble Score: 10

openness is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
openness is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
openness is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

openness is a valid Words With Friends word