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

In the outlying district of Senou, where the airport is located and which witnessed heavy fighting on Saturday, the atmosphere was jittery.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

After the meeting, Kingsnorth said, “We’re ready to pause if we need to because of the outlying state of the world.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels that the signature of the deal has been pushed back to January to give a few more weeks to address some outlying issues with member states.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

“There’s a movement toward smaller cities and community areas. People are moving beyond the cities to the outlying areas,” said Tim Smart, contributing editor at U.S.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 4, 2025

Jonas had crossed it on school trips, visiting the outlying communities, and he knew that the land beyond the bridge was much the same, flat and well ordered, with fields for agriculture.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• backwoods
• far-flung
• faraway
• outer