outlying

American  

[out-lahy-ing] / ˈaʊtˌlaɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. lying at a distance from the center or the main body; remote; out-of-the-way.

   outlying military posts.

2. lying outside the boundary or limit.

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outlying British  

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ /

adjective

1. distant or remote from the main body or centre, as of a town or region

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Etymology

Origin of outlying

First recorded in 1655–65; out- + lying ²

Example Sentences

Most Smart Sampa arrests have occurred in outlying neighborhoods, with many of those detained migrants from poorer regions of Brazil's interior.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

China’s coast guard said it was carrying out patrols in the waters around Taiwan and some of its outlying islands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

“The outlying areas are very attractive to retirees. Smaller communities outside the big metros still offer many of the same features but with more affordability,” Smart said.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 4, 2025

But the Atlanta child murders gripped the city and outlying suburbs like Jonesboro and changed her community’s worldview.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2025

Afterward, most patients were sent off to outlying hospitals to convalesce.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• backwoods
• far-flung
• faraway
• outer