outpost

American  

[out-pohst] / ˈaʊtˌpoʊst /

noun

1. a station established at a distance from the main body of an army to protect it from surprise attack.

   We keep only a small garrison of men at our desert outposts.

2. the body of troops stationed there; detachment or perimeter guard.

3. an outlying settlement, installation, position, etc.

---

outpost British  

/ ˈaʊtˌpəʊst /

noun

1. military

   1. a position stationed at a distance from the area occupied by a major formation

   2. the troops assigned to such a position

2. an outlying settlement or position

3. a limit or frontier

---

Etymology

Origin of outpost

First recorded in 1750–60; out- + post ²

Example Sentences

While NASA’s goal is to establish more of an outpost dedicated to expanding the reach of the U.S., others are planning something straight out of the works of Andy Weir or Robert Heinlein: colonization.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

From the rooftop of his burnt home, Samer Omar, a father-of-four, points out a new track on a nearby hill where settlers are planning another outpost.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

"There will be an evolutionary path to building humanity's first permanent surface outpost beyond Earth, and we will take the world along with us."

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Press reports say the drone in Kuwait attacked U.S. troops at a civilian port, which underscores how hard it is to protect every outpost from aerial weapons that are difficult to spot and eliminate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Once a lonely outpost, Sing Sing now occupies fifty-five acres of prime real estate in suburban Westchester, one of the priciest counties in the United States.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• frontier
• settlement
• station