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

It warned that removing the waste could expose any slow-burning deep-seated fires to open air, risking greater combustion.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

The team identified two distinct kinds of amber: one formed underground near the roots of resin-producing plants, and another that developed in the open air.

From Science Daily • Oct. 11, 2025

A silence falls over us, the quiet, open air of the big room making my ears ring.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott