outdoor

American  

[aut-dawr, -dohr] / ˈaʊtˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr /

adjective

1. Also characteristic of, located, occurring, or belonging outdoors.

   an outdoor barbecue; outdoor sports.

2. outdoorsy.

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outdoor British  

/ ˈaʊtˈdɔː /

adjective

1. Also: out-of-door. (prenominal) taking place, existing, or intended for use in the open air

   outdoor games

   outdoor clothes

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Etymology

Origin of outdoor

First recorded in 1740–50; out- + door

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

See Examples For:

outdoor

Those levels were comparable to, although somewhat below, the outdoor ozone concentrations measured when the experiments were performed.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

He stopped speaking at outdoor events last year after a man wearing a bike helmet rushed toward him outside of a health clinic in Alaska.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

But without Stevie’s technical ingeniousness, the prospect of recording an album in outdoor New York locations would never have been possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The outdoor space boasts yet another fireplace along with sweeping city and canyon views, according to the listing.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026

Ralph knew there were not really a million mice in the inn, although he had to admit that in wintertime the mouseholes were crowded, because his rough outdoor relatives moved inside to keep warm.

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

Related Words

• rustic