outback

American  

[out-bak, out-bak] / ˈaʊtˌbæk, ˈaʊtˈbæk /

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) Usually the outback the back country or remote settlements; the bush.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or located in the back country.

   outback settlements.

adverb

1. in or to the back country.

   They moved outback many years ago.

outback British  

/ ˈaʊtˌbæk /

noun

1. 1. the remote bush country of Australia

   2. ( as modifier )

      outback life

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Etymology

Origin of outback

First recorded in 1875–80; out + back ²

Example Sentences

Future rover missions might find microbial fossils in Mars rock—of the kind Mr. Willis prospects for in the Australian outback—for Mars, too, was once warm and wet.

From The Wall Street Journal

Breanna, her older sister Olivia and younger brother Jacob all did remote classes for children in the outback who are unable to attend a physical school.

From BBC

The day before, the state of New South Wales had reported its hottest day in over a century, a high of 44.8C in the outback town of Bourke.

From BBC

Get Me Out of Here! kicks off on Sunday night, with former Lioness Alex Scott, TV personality Jack Osbourne and comedian Ruby Wax among those being dumped in the middle of the Australian outback.

From BBC

Similar gusts are also sweeping across Australia, bringing a heatwave to the country's outback.

From BBC

Related Words

• wilderness