open shop

American  

noun

1. a factory, office, or other business establishment in which a union, chosen by a majority of the employees, acts as representative of all the employees in making agreements with the employer, but in which union membership is not a condition of employment.

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open shop British  

noun

1. an establishment in which persons are hired and employed irrespective of their membership or nonmembership of a trade union Compare closed shop union shop

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open shop Cultural  

1. A business that employs both unionized and nonunionized labor.

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Other Word Forms

• anti-open-shop noun
• open-shop adjective

Etymology

Origin of open shop

First recorded in 1895–1900

Compare meaning

How does open-shop compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• open shop vs. closed shop

Example Sentences

He’s already alluded to a reelection campaign, saying it might take more time to reestablish his hometown as a city where every tourist wants to visit and every business wants to open shop.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025

A long queue formed outside the only open shop as people sought supplies.

From Reuters • Sep. 9, 2023

Customers fill the parking lot at Arizona Maintenance, waiting for Aribal Benitez to open shop.

From The Guardian • Aug. 31, 2019

I found Ma Nüwa in the only open shop along one row.

From New York Times • Oct. 25, 2016

Now the guild of the asbestos-weaver must open shop very soon.

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury