outpost

American  

[aut-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

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Etymology

Origin of outpost

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

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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

And Carnegie Mellon gets an outpost in the South, a region increasingly appealing to many college students, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

After years of litigation and anticipation, Camarillo is getting its own Costco Wholesale outpost.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

We drove past an undeveloped beach—no facilities, just a handful of people taking a dip—and up to a viewpoint where there was a military outpost containing one soldier and his dog.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

They keep the outpost simple—a water trailer, solar panels, cheap building materials—to make replacing it easier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

Apparently the Junior Researcher trainees all have to attend a presentation from some really old, really famous magical scientist who’s visiting from the Bureau’s London outpost.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

What we witnessed was part of a pattern being repeated day after day, as settler outposts here increase.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

He said his land was now surrounded by seven Jewish settlements and outposts.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Mikhmas is located in the central West Bank between Ramallah and Jerusalem, near several Israeli settlement outposts whose residents have attacked the community on several occasions in recent months.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Such troops are much less likely than regular soldiers to dismantle illegal outposts, experts say.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

It was deserted—the outposts were only active in the spring—and little more than a round lodge made of bone, sod, and animal skins.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

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Related Words

• frontier
• settlement
• station

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