outsider

noun

out·​sid·​er ˌau̇t-ˈsī-dər How to pronounce outsider (audio)
ˈau̇t-ˌsī-
1
: a person who does not belong to a particular group
2
chiefly British : a contender not expected to win
outsiderness noun

Examples of outsider in a Sentence

To outsiders, the ritual may seem strange. She felt like an outsider in her new school. An outsider defeated the champion! She was a rank outsider who managed to win.
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.
The opacity of the palace means no outsiders can know for sure. Charlie Campbell, Time, 26 June 2025 While outsiders see the 45-minute indoor cycling class as just another workout, Webster understands that for SoulCycle riders, those 45 minutes feel more like a concert or a spiritual experience. Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Working-class residents battle with an upper-class outsider regarding the best way to kill the shark. Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025 Mamdani, a 33-year-old member of the Democratic Socialists of America, was seen as the progressive, outsider in the race. Julia Manchester, The Hill, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for outsider

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outsider was in 1800

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outsider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outsider. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

outsider

noun
out·​sid·​er (ˈ)au̇t-ˈsīd-ər How to pronounce outsider (audio)
: a person who does not belong to a particular group

More from Merriam-Webster on outsider

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!