indoor

American  

[in-dawr, -dohr] / ˈɪnˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr /

adjective

1. occurring, used, etc., in a house or building, rather than out of doors.

   indoor games.

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indoor British  

/ ˈɪnˌdɔː /

adjective

1. of, situated in, or appropriate to the inside of a house or other building

   an indoor tennis court

   indoor amusements

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Etymology

Origin of indoor

1705–15; aphetic variant of within-door, originally phrase within ( the ) door, i.e., inside the house

Explanation

Use the adjective indoor to describe something that happens or is used inside a building or house. Your indoor furniture is probably a little fancier than your plastic outdoor furniture. Indoor sports are the ones you play inside, like ping pong and floor hockey — beach volleyball is not an indoor sport. Your indoor voice is likewise the one you use in your house or classroom, a quieter voice than when you holler across a parking lot to your friend in his convertible. Indoor, which has been used since the 18th century, is a shortened form of the phrase within door.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

indoor

But researchers note that dramatically reversing society's shift toward indoor, technology-centered lifestyles may be difficult.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

Its revitalized city center features the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, which boasts 158 acres of indoor and outdoor botanic gardens, nature trails and a massive sculpture collection.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

In Britain, a night at the pub doesn’t require a table, a chair or even indoor shelter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The LSU graduate wanted to play indoor volleyball in college, but she couldn’t because of injuries and instead joined the beach volleyball team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

That drove them to do indoor things: you might say, indoor exploration.

From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis

Related Words

• private