outlier

American  

[out-lahy-er] / ˈaʊtˌlaɪ ər /

noun

1. something that lies outside the main body or group that it is a part of, such as a cow far from the rest of the herd, or a distant island belonging to a cluster of islands.

   The small factory was an outlier, and unproductive, so the corporation sold it off to private owners who were able to make it profitable.

2. someone who stands apart from other members of a group, such as by differing behavior, beliefs, or religious practices.

   There are a few scientists who are outliers in their views on climate change.

   Synonyms:

   outsider, heretic, iconoclast, dissenter, dissident, bohemian, eccentric, original, maverick, nonconformist

3. Statistics.

   1. an observation that is well outside of the expected range of values in a study or experiment, and which is often discarded from the data set.

      Experience with a variety of data-reduction problems has led to several strategies for dealing with outliers in data sets.

   2. a person whose abilities, achievements, etc., lie outside the range of statistical probability.

4. Geology. a part of a formation left detached through the removal of surrounding parts by erosion.

5. Obsolete. a person residing outside the place of their business, duty, etc.

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outlier British  

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪə /

noun

1. an outcrop of rocks that is entirely surrounded by older rocks

2. a person, thing, or part situated away from a main or related body

3. a person who lives away from his place of work, duty, etc

4. statistics a point in a sample widely separated from the main cluster of points in the sample See scatter diagram

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Etymology

Origin of outlier

First recorded in 1600–10; out- + lier

Example Sentences

Real Madrid, once again, are viewed as outliers - a club that operates differently, restricts its manager, and even quietly prepares the ground for a dismissal months before it happens, aided by loyal media.

From BBC

The department says it compared the US to 20 nations included Britain, Canada, Denmark and Australia and found the US was "a global outlier" in the number of diseases covered and number of doses.

From BBC

For some perspective on how much of an outlier that makes the Jets, the previous record for fewest interceptions in a season during the Super Bowl era was two.

From The Wall Street Journal

With only one top-flight club, Paris had stood as an outlier among major European cities, where white-hot rivalries break along lines of class, geography, and political leaning.

From The Wall Street Journal

Finally, e-commerce platform Shopify is an outlier in the group in that it hasn’t really been an AI loser at all — the stock is up 48% over the past year.

From Barron's

Related Words

• aberration
• deviation
• eccentricity
• exception
• oddity