Closed-minded is the more logical spelling of the phrasal adjective meaning intolerant of others or unreceptive to new ideas. Close-minded appears more often and is listed in some dictionaries, but it makes less sense than closed-minded. To say, for example, he is a close-minded man is technically the same as saying he is a man with a close mind. Close to what?
Still, close-minded appears in all types of writing, and it is sanctioned by dictionaries, so we’re probably fighting for a lost cause on this one.
Examples
Publications with high editorial standards usually use closed-minded—for example:
[T]hose who hold conservative political views are more likely to be closed-minded, conformist and resistant to change. [Washington Post]
A leader who comes from a Christian tradition … runs the risk of looking sectarian and closed-minded by hanging out with fellow believers. [Globe and Mail]
Other attributes of a holdout: intelligent, stubborn, closed-minded, a dogmatic person who’s antagonistic and willing to play “devil’s advocate,” experts say. [Chicago Sun-Times]
