alfresco

adjective or adverb

al·​fres·​co al-ˈfre-(ˌ)skō How to pronounce alfresco (audio)
Synonyms of alfresco
: taking place or located in the open air : outdoor, outdoors
an alfresco lunch
an alfresco café
dining alfresco

Did you know?

In addition to describing a type of dining, alfresco can also describe a kind of painting. The word fresco, which comes from the Italian adjective fresco, meaning "fresh," refers to a method of painting on fresh plaster. Although the "outdoors" sense of alfresco is by far the most common in current use, the term is sometimes used to describe painting done in the fresco manner—that is, on fresh plaster.

Examples of alfresco in a Sentence

the restaurant's shaded terrace is highly recommended for those seeking to dine alfresco during the summer months, the theater company puts on a series of alfresco performances
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Learn how to cook lionfish ceviche, jerk chicken, and more with a group of like-minded people from all over the world, concluding with an alfresco feast—a true one-of-a-kind connection between strangers. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2026 The outdoor Pergola Bar & Cafe with alfresco seating for 50 will make its debut July 1, as will the ground-level cocktail bar in the sushi area. Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 Across four days and 13 concerts, Salonen threaded his contemporaries, neglected Italian modernists, Lutoslawski and Ligeti, Stravinsky with his own works into Ojai’s alfresco soundscape of birdsong, film screenings and experiments. Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 Loungers surround the pool, and there’s both a back patio with umbrella seating and a side patio for alfresco dining. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alfresco

Word History

Etymology

Italian

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alfresco was in 1753

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Cite this Entry

“Alfresco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alfresco. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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