outlet

American  

[aut-let, -lit] / ˈaʊt lɛt, -lɪt /

noun

• outlets
  plural

1. an opening or passage by which anything is let out; vent; exit.

2. Electricity.

   1. a point on a wiring system at which current is taken to supply electric devices.

   2. Also called outlet box. the metal box or receptacle designed to facilitate connections to a wiring system.

3. a means of expression or satisfaction.

   an outlet for one's artistic impulses.

4. a market for goods.

5. a store, merchant, or agency selling the goods of a particular wholesaler or manufacturer.

6. a local radio or television station that broadcasts the programs of a large network.

7. a river or stream flowing from a body of water, as a lake or pond.

8. the channel such a river or stream follows.

9. the lower end or mouth of a river where it meets a large body of water, as a lake or the sea.

---

outlet British  

/ ˈaʊtlɛt, -lɪt /

noun

1. an opening or vent permitting escape or release

2. a means for release or expression of emotion, creative energy, etc

3. 1. a market for a product or service

   2. a commercial establishment retailing the goods of a particular producer or wholesaler

4. 1. a channel that drains a body of water

   2. the mouth of a river

5. a point in a wiring system from which current can be taken to supply electrical devices

6. anatomy the beginning or end of a passage, esp the lower opening of the pelvis ( pelvic outlet )

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• outlets
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of outlet

First recorded in 1200–50, outlet is from the Middle English word utlete. See out, let ¹

---

Explanation

Any hole or opening that allows water or gas to get out is an outlet. The place where water runs out of a lake and into a river is one example of an outlet. When you need to charge your laptop, you plug it into an electrical outlet, which gets its name from the idea that electricity comes out of it, just as water flows out of a river outlet. Outlet is also used to mean "store that sells discounted goods" and "a way to express yourself emotionally creatively." Dancing might be your outlet, for example — the way you let your feelings and creativity out.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outlet outlets

In another interview Thursday with pro-Trump outlet Real America's Voice, Zacharia said she had registered to take the bar exam but was "distracted and overwhelmed" by plans to move to China with her husband.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

The girl was in front of a fast-food outlet near the city centre when the incident took place, police said.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

“We just always wanted to be around a completely different culture,” he told the outlet.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Co-owner Lauren Crabbe said sales at one outlet by the beach are up 40% so far this year compared with the same time three years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

I knew also that these young men would eventually become frustrated because Black Consciousness offered no program of action, no outlet for their protest.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

In July, Paxton's campaign spokesperson told media outlets that he would debate Talarico.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Multiple US media outlets have reported that the investigation is tied to Omar's US citizenship and whether she lied about her age when she arrived in the US in 1995.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

At the time, the top five US broadcasters halted pool coverage of the White House -- where a broadcaster films on behalf of all television outlets -- for several days in solidarity with CNN.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

Amex couldn’t resist a jab at the other credit-card companies nipping at its lounge heels: It will be the only operator with outlets at the three major metro New York airports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

His father had been a vaudeville dancer and singer and had achieved quite a bit of success in the black entertainment outlets.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• market
• shop
• showroom

---