outcast

¹ American  

[out-kast, -kahst] / ˈaʊtˌkæst, -ˌkɑst /

noun

1. a person who is rejected or cast out, as from home or society.

   In the beginning the area was settled by outcasts, adventurers, and felons.

   Synonyms:

   pariah, leper, expatriate, refugee, exile

2. rejected matter; refuse.

---

adjective

1. cast out, as from one's home or society.

   an outcast son.

2. pertaining to or characteristic of an outcast.

   outcast misery.

3. rejected or discarded.

   outcast opinions.

outcast ² American  

[out-kast, -kahst] / ˈaʊtˌkæst, -ˌkɑst /

noun

Scot.

1. a falling out; quarrel.

---

outcast British  

/ ˈaʊtˌkɑːst /

noun

1. a person who is rejected or excluded from a social group

2. a vagabond or wanderer

3. anything thrown out or rejected

---

adjective

1. rejected, abandoned, or discarded; cast out

Etymology

Origin of outcast¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English outcast(e), outecaste; out-, + cast ( def. )

Origin of outcast²

1590–1600; noun use of verb phrase ( Scottish ) cast out

Example Sentences

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” still connects with so many people because it empowers its outcasts and misfits.

From Salon

A team of British scientists, two authors and a group of thought leaders once deemed societal outcasts are here to help.

From Los Angeles Times

‘He’s trying to help us! You can’t treat him like an outcast!’

From Literature

Thomas Harris grew up in the South as a bookish outcast, reading the works of Ernest Hemingway and Jonathan Swift.

From Los Angeles Times

“Call you outcast, low down, you can’t make it, you’re nothing, you’re from nobody, subclass, underclass; when you see Jesse Jackson, when my name goes in nomination, your name goes in nomination.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fugitive
• untouchable
• vagabond