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• open air
  open air

  noun

  the outdoors.
• open-air
  open-air

  adjective

  existing in, taking place in, or characteristic of the open air; outdoor.

open air

¹ American  

noun

1. the outdoors.

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open-air ² American  

[oh-puhn-air] / ˈoʊ pənˈɛər /

adjective

1. existing in, taking place in, or characteristic of the open air; outdoor.

   The orchestra gave three open-air concerts last summer.

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open air British  

noun

1. 1. the place or space where the air is unenclosed; the outdoors

   2. ( as modifier )

      an open-air concert

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• open-airness
  noun
• open-airish
  adjective
• open-airishness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of open air¹

First recorded in 1520–30

Origin of open-air²

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Security is expected to be tight for the event, which will be held in the open air, following a series of recent incidents involving Trump.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Because the giants stand in the open air, visitors who show up after hours — as I did — can ogle them any time.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

The worst quality clothes end up at La Quebradilla, a huge open air market near the town of Alto Hospicio, around half an hour uphill from Iquique, and still within Zofri.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

A quarter—12 of 49—were confirmed to be autos with open air bag recalls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

Here in the open air though, the business is entirely a pleasure.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque