outsider
Americannoun
-
outsiders
plural
-
a person not belonging to a particular group, set, party, etc..
Society often regards the artist as an outsider.
-
a person unconnected or unacquainted with the matter in question.
Not being a parent, I was regarded as an outsider.
-
a racehorse, sports team, or other competitor not considered likely to win or succeed.
-
a person or thing not within an enclosure, boundary, etc.
noun
-
a person or thing excluded from or not a member of a set, group, etc
-
a contestant, esp a horse, thought unlikely to win in a race
-
(in the north) a person who does not live in the Arctic regions
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of outsider
Explanation
An outsider is a stranger — someone who doesn't fit in, or someone who observes a group from afar. An outsider stands outside the group, looking in. If you go through high school without belonging to any particular group — you're not a jock, a nerd, or an artist, for example — you might feel like an outsider. Having a brand new job can also put you in the position of being an outsider, especially if you have no experience in the profession. To an outsider, the way a busy restaurant works might seem chaotic and random, for example. To an insider, on the other hand, it might all make perfect sense.
Vocabulary lists containing outsider
Workshop 2, Part 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Book of Job
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
You said earlier that Zoe is an outsider.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
So nothing against your beloved, but I would be excited to see an underdog or somebody kind of an outsider.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
It’s just one way an ultimate insider is in some ways acting as if she’s an outsider in her quest to transform Charles River, which provides drug-development services.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Under his leadership, which helped stabilise the economy and tackle corruption, China began transforming into a manufacturing powerhouse, leaving behind its status as a Communist outsider.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
As the only hijabi and one of only two Black Muslims in the group, yet again, I felt like an outsider where I should have found an immediate connection.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
The Muslim-majority region, battling some of India's highest unemployment rates, has become increasingly dependent on outsiders to perform jobs that many locals consider menial, including domestic work, agriculture and construction.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Close to half of the Zillow clicks to view rentals in Austin, Texas, came from outsiders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Two outsiders then made it all the way to the big game, with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots for their first NFL championship in 12 years.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The duo of outsiders broke through a system dominated by elite appellate attorneys, who go to great lengths to identify cases that might interest the high court.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
I croaked, keeping my hand close against my chest to shield the view from outsiders.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
