1
: of or relating to painting in outdoor daylight
2
: of or relating to a branch of impressionism that attempts to represent outdoor light and air
plein air
2 of 2French adjective
: open-air : outdoor
Examples of plein air in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Madeline Weinfield, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2024
In store, local shoppers can also browse the plein air paintings by Central Virginia artist Leah Doise.
—Brennan Long, Southern Living, 26 July 2024
For a competition like the plein air one, people can do their work any time in a three- or four-week period, while the abstract competition will have all competitors working in the same location at the same time for a three-hour time limit.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2024
The painting of Monet’s wife and son enjoying a Provençal summer day is a showcase of the artist’s plein air work at the height of the Impressionist movement.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for plein air 
Adjective
For seven days, plein air painters celebrate the area's tradition of outdoor painting.
—Madeline Weinfield, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2024
In store, local shoppers can also browse the plein air paintings by Central Virginia artist Leah Doise.
—Brennan Long, Southern Living, 26 July 2024
For a competition like the plein air one, people can do their work any time in a three- or four-week period, while the abstract competition will have all competitors working in the same location at the same time for a three-hour time limit.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2024
The painting of Monet’s wife and son enjoying a Provençal summer day is a showcase of the artist’s plein air work at the height of the Impressionist movement.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for plein air
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plein air.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Plein air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plein%20air. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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