outdoor
Americanadjective
-
Also characteristic of, located, occurring, or belonging outdoors.
an outdoor barbecue; outdoor sports.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of outdoor
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
SAN FRANCISCO—Alex Sorenson and Lizzie Silvers were about to tie the knot at an outdoor ceremony when a group of tipsy young men stumbled in out of the gloom, tittering at discovering nuptials in progress.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Officials said other benefits of minimising outdoor lighting included lower carbon emissions and energy costs.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Students ski at the college’s Nordic center, skate at the Sidney J. Watson Arena, and borrow outdoor equipment from an extensive gear library.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The cute cottage features a slanted roof, bathroom, outdoor shower, and enough space for two beds.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
“And the outdoor pool in the community center hasn’t been open for years.”
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
