outré
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of outré
First recorded in 1715–25; from French, past participle of outrer “to push beyond bounds” ( see outrage)
Explanation
Outre things are eccentric or shockingly strange. Your outre outfit might be fine to wear to a Halloween party but less appropriate for a job interview. The adjective outre is often spelled with its French accent: outré. In French, this word means "exaggerated, excessive, or extreme," and is a past participle of the verb outrer, "to carry to excess or overdo," from outre, "beyond." If something is beyond what's considered normal or ordinary, it's outre: "His one-man play was so bizarrely outre that the audience didn't know how to respond."
Vocabulary lists containing outre
English Words Derived from French, List 10
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week In Culture: January 25–31, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Call of Chtulhu
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The essence of this duo was the outré interplay between the Prince and the Putz, the Leading Man and the Monkey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Sommer has been covering the grotesqueries of outré right-wing conspiracy culture for nearly a decade now.
From Slate ● May 7, 2026
Wineman isn’t afraid to spelunk truly deranged depths, but what’s remarkable is how much style he incorporates into the film’s most outré moments.
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
Yet Keaton’s off-kilter taste—reflected elsewhere in her rambling dialogue delivery and outré fashion sense—is in evidence in her attraction to the strange personalities asked to ruminate on the hereafter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026
When Len followed Moira determinedly into the consulting room, Berry looked mildly shocked for a moment, then apparently decided to carry on as if nothing outré had happened.
From Special Delivery by Damon Francis Knight
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
