reopener: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical / Legal
Quick answer
What does “reopener” mean?
A person or thing that opens something again, or a clause/event that permits the reopening of negotiations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that opens something again, or a clause/event that permits the reopening of negotiations.
A provision in a contract, treaty, or collective bargaining agreement that allows specific terms (like wages) to be renegotiated at a predetermined time before the main agreement expires. Can also refer to a person who literally reopens a business or venue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, but more frequent in American English due to common use in labor law and union contracts.
Connotations
In both varieties, in a labor context, it can imply potential for conflict or adjustment.
Frequency
More common in American legal and business journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “reopener” in a Sentence
[The reopener] allows for [renegotiation] of [specific terms]The union invoked the [wage reopener] in the contract.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reopener” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council plans to reopen the library next month.
- They decided to reopen the investigation.
American English
- The store will reopen after renovations.
- The DA moved to reopen the case.
adjective
British English
- The reopening ceremony was well-attended.
- A re-opened wound.
American English
- The reopening date is set for June.
- He filed a reopened claim.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The contract's wage reopener will be activated if inflation exceeds 5%.
Academic
The study examined the impact of contract reopeners on long-term labor peace.
Everyday
After the repairs, the mayor was the official reopener of the town hall.
Technical
The CBA Article 7 functions as a limited reopener for health benefits only.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reopener”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reopener”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reopener”
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'We will reopener the talks' – correct: 'We will reopen the talks' or 'We will use the reopener').
- Confusing 'reopener' (noun) with 'reopen' (verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word, primarily used in specific legal, labor, and business contexts.
Yes, literally it can (e.g., 'the reopener of the festival'), but this use is rare. The contractual sense is far more prevalent.
It is almost exclusively a noun.
'Reopen' is a verb meaning to open again. 'Reopener' is a noun referring either to the person/thing that reopens or, more commonly, to the contractual mechanism that permits reopening negotiations.
A person or thing that opens something again, or a clause/event that permits the reopening of negotiations.
Reopener is usually formal / technical / legal in register.
Reopener: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈəʊ.pən.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈoʊ.pən.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'RE-OPENER' like a 'RE-DO' button on a contract. It opens the discussion again.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTRACT IS A BUILDING (with a clause as a door that can be reopened).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'reopener' most specifically and formally used?