outer

American  

[ou-ter] / ˈaʊ tər /

adjective

1. situated on or toward the outside; external; exterior.

   outer garments; an outer wall.

2. situated farther out or farther from the center.

   the outer reaches of space.

3. of or relating to the external world.

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outer British  

/ ˈaʊtə /

adjective

1. being or located on the outside; external

2. further from the middle or central part

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noun

1. archery

   1. the white outermost ring on a target

   2. a shot that hits this ring

2. the unsheltered part of the spectator area at a sports ground

3. informal excluded or neglected

Other Word Forms

• outerness noun

Etymology

Origin of outer

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; out, -er ⁴

Example Sentences

A makeshift window on the back wall opens onto what looks like a portal to outer space.

From Los Angeles Times

While the canning process preserved the outer structure of the worms, it destroyed the internal features scientists would need to identify specific species.

From Science Daily

Part of SpaceX’s recent AI strategy is a shift toward building data centers in outer space, where solar power is abundant and, Musk says, will eventually be cheaper than operating on Earth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stellantis tries to take the edge off for workers hoofing it from outer perimeter lots, shuttling them in from some locations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Researchers also selected planets located near the inner and outer edges of the habitable zone to better understand where the limits of habitability lie.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• exterior
• outlying