outdoor
Americanadjective
-
Also characteristic of, located, occurring, or belonging outdoors.
an outdoor barbecue; outdoor sports.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of outdoor
Explanation
Things that are outdoor belong outside. Your slippers aren't outdoor shoes, but your snow boots are definitely outdoor shoes. A picnic is an outdoor meal, and a sculpture garden is often an outdoor area of a museum. Bird watching, surfing, and snowball fights are all outdoor activities, and if you're an outdoor enthusiast you probably enjoy them more than watching TV or baking cookies. The adjective outdoor was first used in the 1740s, with the related adverb outdoors following in the 1800s.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Luxe amenities include four guest suites and an outdoor living area with a pool and spa, cabana, and kitchen.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
Prior to the stabbing, New York officials had already cancelled an outdoor watch party set for Monday outside the Garden.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
The outdoor mammoth family sculptures were also nonnegotiable.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
Warmer weather means I get a chance at DJing outdoor events like our annual south Philly food festival or Pride.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
They all drove to the Capitol for the traditional outdoor inauguration ceremony.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
