1 outsider | Definition of outsider

outsider

noun
out·​sid·​er | \ ËŒau̇t-ˈsÄ«-dÉ™r How to pronounce outsider (audio) , ˈau̇t-ËŒsÄ«-\

Definition of outsider

1 : a person who does not belong to a particular group
2 chiefly British : a contender not expected to win

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Other Words from outsider

outsiderness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for outsider

Synonyms

foreigner, nonnative, outlander, stranger

Antonyms

native

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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

For people like Sanaullah, the accusation of being an outsider is an affront. Niha Masih, Washington Post, "A crackdown in India on suspected illegal immigrants could leave millions stateless," 26 Aug. 2019 Much of AO3’s story is a story of alienation, of being an online outsider. Aja Romano, Vox, "4.7 million fanfics are now Hugo winners, thanks to AO3 and the transformative culture that built it.," 19 Aug. 2019 These were people with very little financial resources who were outsiders and shunned by the political establishment and the business establishment in the city in the 1970s, who were working hard to change the city for the better. Greg Jefferson, ExpressNews.com, "Congressman Joaquin Castro talks about the tweet," 16 Aug. 2019 Betts’s sense of being an outsider was further heightened just before the All-Star break. BostonGlobe.com, "Mookie Betts’s first taste of a major league clubhouse made him grateful for a demotion," 13 Aug. 2019 To an outsider, the ideas may seem fairly quotidian, the kind of slogans that are widely embraced by companies all over the world. Christopher Leonard, ProPublica, "Rising Profits, Rising Injuries: The Safety Crisis at Koch Industries’ Georgia-Pacific," 8 Aug. 2019 At the shooting site on Tuesday, many lifelong El Paso residents emphasized that the shooting suspect was an outsider who had driven hours to the border community. Lissandra Villa / El Paso, Time, "'May I Give You a Hug?' How El Paso Is Supporting the Families of Victims," 8 Aug. 2019 Your next manager is likely going to be an outsider to the community. Steve Smith, courant.com, "Tolland Meets With Potential New Town Manager," 7 Aug. 2019 The Trumps, by contrast, were outsiders on the ascent, with Manhattan’s elite winking tantalizingly from across the East River. Natasha Frost, Quartz, "No, Boris Johnson isn’t the UK’s Donald Trump," 25 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outsider.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of outsider

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for outsider

outsider

noun

English Language Learners Definition of outsider

: a person who does not belong to or is not accepted as part of a particular group or organization
chiefly British : a person or animal that is not expected to win a race or competition

outsider

noun
out·​sid·​er | \ au̇t-ˈsÄ«-dÉ™r How to pronounce outsider (audio) \

Kids Definition of outsider

: a person who does not belong to a particular group

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More from Merriam-Webster on outsider

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with outsider

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for outsider

Spanish Central: Translation of outsider

Nglish: Translation of outsider for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of outsider for Arabic Speakers