outpost

American  

[out-pohst] / ˈaʊtˌpoʊst /

noun

• outposts
  plural

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• outposts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of outpost

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

Explanation

An outpost is a camp or station that's somewhat isolated. A military outpost acts as a guard or defense against an enemy's attack on the larger military force. Whenever a small group of people sets up a camp at a distance from the main, larger organization (whether it's military or not), you can call their settlement an outpost. Explorers in the early days of the US set up outposts throughout the West, and many countries establish outposts near their borders with hostile neighbors — encampments for keeping an eye on them. The first written use of outpost is usually ascribed to George Washington.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outpost outposts

Madrid had rushed security personnel and equipment to the North African outpost that it has run for centuries.

From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026

Southern Californian restaurateur Rafi Khan had a clear vision for a new food outpost on a 20-acre ranch he leased in Riverside County earlier this year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Meanwhile, novels about urbanites who relocate to a rural outpost are almost invariably antic accounts of dopiness rewarded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

I had been expecting to reach her at an improbable desert outpost, like a Death Valley library with Wi-Fi, but instead reached her in Orange County.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

I walked away from the outpost building toward the shade provided by an old broken statue.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had sent forces to the area a second time, overnight, and dismantled two outposts, detaining one Israeli.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

"Since they will be limited by the few resources they brought from Earth, anything they find on the moon will help them basically live off the land, especially for longer-term missions or outposts."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026

Earlier this month, at one of its outposts in Manhattan, people were lining up outside in 92-degree heat before the store had even opened.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Two more outposts are slated to open in Salzburg and Graz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

“Unless you have some magical knowledge about which watchtowers and outposts are active. Besides, if we enter from Ravka, we have to contend with Ravkans and Fjerdans.”

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Related Words

• frontier
• settlement
• station