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outdoorsy

American  
[aut-dawr-zee, -dohr-] / ˌaʊtˈdɔr zi, -ˈdoʊr- /

adjective

  1. characteristic of or suitable to the outdoors.

    a rugged, outdoorsy life; heavy, outdoorsy clothes.

  2. unusually fond of outdoor life.

    an outdoorsy type who always swam before breakfast.


outdoorsy British  
/ ˌaʊtˈdɔːzɪ /

adjective

  1. informal characteristic of, or taking part in activities relating to, the outdoors

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of outdoorsy

First recorded in 1950–55; outdoors + -y 1


Explanation

If you're outdoorsy, you enjoy spending a lot of time outside. Outdoorsy people like to hike, climb mountains, ski, and do other sporty activities that can't be done indoors. Use the informal adjective outdoorsy to describe people who always seem to be out in the fresh air, especially if they're healthy, active, and a little bit windblown. Your outdoorsy friend might prefer hiking in the woods or swimming in the ocean to watching a movie with a big bowl of popcorn on her lap. You might even call her an outdoorswoman — that would also capture her fondness for the outdoors.

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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.

See Examples For:

The curriculum includes rigorous academic options, like AP Calculus, in addition to practical and outdoorsy courses, such as “creative handiwork” and environmental science.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

She says they are a very "outdoorsy and creative family" and so restricting screen time was a "no-brainer".

From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026

"Major designers, echoed by the high street, are creating collections that work for a more outdoorsy lifestyle," she says.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Zhao Luchun, a civil servant, and Lu Jieyang, a teacher, a couple and both 28, bought waterproof jackets from Arc’teryx for about $800 each ahead of a recent vacation to Iceland, their first outdoorsy trip.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 6, 2025

“I tried to teach your daddy how to do this when he was a kid,” she goes on, “but he wanted no part of it. Never been the outdoorsy type.”

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

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