outsider
Americannoun
-
outsiders
plural
-
a person not belonging to a particular group, set, party, etc..
Society often regards the artist as an outsider.
-
a person unconnected or unacquainted with the matter in question.
Not being a parent, I was regarded as an outsider.
-
a racehorse, sports team, or other competitor not considered likely to win or succeed.
-
a person or thing not within an enclosure, boundary, etc.
noun
-
a person or thing excluded from or not a member of a set, group, etc
-
a contestant, esp a horse, thought unlikely to win in a race
-
(in the north) a person who does not live in the Arctic regions
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of outsider
Explanation
An outsider is a stranger — someone who doesn't fit in, or someone who observes a group from afar. An outsider stands outside the group, looking in. If you go through high school without belonging to any particular group — you're not a jock, a nerd, or an artist, for example — you might feel like an outsider. Having a brand new job can also put you in the position of being an outsider, especially if you have no experience in the profession. To an outsider, the way a busy restaurant works might seem chaotic and random, for example. To an insider, on the other hand, it might all make perfect sense.
Vocabulary lists containing outsider
Workshop 2, Part 1
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!
The Book of Job
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!
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.
See Examples For:
Matières Fécales — literally French for “fecal matter” — has gone from an intentionally provocative outsider project to dressing some of the world’s biggest celebrities, including Zendaya, Lady Gaga, Demi Moore and Kylie Jenner.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
Earlier on Thursday evening, tournament outsider Van Duijvenbode survived a late surge by Gary Anderson to reach his first Matchplay semi-final.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Burwell’s music would be an outsider pick for a score award, but a Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross-caliber choice to win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
He was elected in 2019 as an outsider leading his own movement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
It was often a struggle, still feeling like an outsider on my own team, but I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to let my teammates’ behavior affect my goals.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
To outsiders, investing can seem like an elite country club with its own rules.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
It is a secret code that cannot be fully understood by outsiders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Yet in recent years, Igwe says he and other residents became worried when they noticed outsiders arriving to hunt the birds and vulture numbers dwindled.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Bourdain gave fellow outsiders an insider’s view of the kitchen.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
Wagner followers gloried in the alarm his work often provoked among outsiders.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
