outdoor

American  

[out-dawr, -dohr] / ˈaʊtˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr /

adjective

1. Also characteristic of, located, occurring, or belonging outdoors.

   an outdoor barbecue; outdoor sports.

2. outdoorsy.

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outdoor British  

/ ˈaʊtˈdɔː /

adjective

1. Also: out-of-door.  (prenominal) taking place, existing, or intended for use in the open air

   outdoor games

   outdoor clothes

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Etymology

Origin of outdoor

First recorded in 1740–50; out- + door

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

Ongoing studies are testing caffeine-enhanced bait in outdoor environments in Spain and examining how caffeine interacts with the poison itself.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

The listing notes, “An extraordinary chef’s kitchen opens to the family room, breakfast room, and outdoor dining area with pizza oven and barbecue.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

"Due to poorly-planned development, the overuse of pesticides and the practice of creating sterile and lifeless outdoor spaces, wildlife is now disappearing and people are becoming disconnected from nature." said Surrey Wildlife Trust's Claire Harris.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Two years later, he married Dianne Roberts, a Canadian who was nearly 20 years his junior and shared his taste for outdoor challenges.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

So I trudged the path back to the cave, past the celebrations in the outdoor kitchen, up the corridor and into my father’s room.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

Related Words

• rustic