Hardened fiber optic connector compatible with hardened and non-hardened fiber optic adapters

A fiber optic connector for use with a fiber optic adapter, the fiber optic connector comprising:

• a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;
• a connector housing having a length that extends along the longitudinal axis between a front end of the connector housing and a rear end of the connector housing, the front end of the connector housing being defined as a plug portion of the connector housing sized to fit within the fiber optic adapter, the ferrule being positioned at the plug portion and being configured to project forwardly beyond the front end of the connector housing, the ferrule being spring biased in a forward direction relative to the connector housing, the connector housing including a first side and an opposite second side, the first side of the connector housing defining an exterior longitudinally extending keyway for receiving an alignment key corresponding to the fiber optic adapter, the second side of the connector housing including an exterior catch for engaging a retention latch corresponding to the fiber optic adapter, the connector housing also defining an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned rearward of the exterior catch and the exterior longitudinally extending keyway;
• and
• a sealing member that extends around the central longitudinal axis at a periphery of the connector housing and that is retained in the circumferential groove.