outsider

American  

[out-sahy-der] / ˌaʊtˈsaɪ dər /

noun

1. a person not belonging to a particular group, set, party, etc..

   Society often regards the artist as an outsider.

2. a person unconnected or unacquainted with the matter in question.

   Not being a parent, I was regarded as an outsider.

3. a racehorse, sports team, or other competitor not considered likely to win or succeed.

4. a person or thing not within an enclosure, boundary, etc.

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outsider British  

/ ˌaʊtˈsaɪdə /

noun

1. a person or thing excluded from or not a member of a set, group, etc

2. a contestant, esp a horse, thought unlikely to win in a race

3. (in the north) a person who does not live in the Arctic regions

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Etymology

Origin of outsider

First recorded in 1790–1800; outside + -er ¹

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.

Example Sentences

But Potter, who struggled with unchecked mental illness, depicted himself as an antihero outsider with a spiritual connection to the ravens of Yosemite, and could also be juvenile, selfish and oblivious.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

She faces a challenge from former Lima mayor Ricardo Belmont, 80, who, despite having run the capital for five years, has pitched himself as an outsider.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Agriculture companies generally require an outsider to wear washed clothes they provide before working with livestock to avoid any contamination.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

He has gone from a rank outsider to the man who is widely expected to unseat Orban.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

An African American woman, she was adept even in environments where her gender or race made her an outsider.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• alien
• foreigner
• interloper
• newcomer
• stranger