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

Example Sentences

“It’s all about being an outsider and feeling different, and I related to that,” Boston said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Using that fame, she ran as a Republican in 2021 in California’s gubernatorial recall election, positioning herself as a political outsider.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Austrian coach Adi Hutter is a rank outsider, although he did win admirers in the Premier League with his work at clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

China’s tech titans are embracing an unlikely outsider: OpenClaw, a project created by an Austrian developer that is making waves across the country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

He was a shamanic outsider who was born to a virgin girl in a village far to the north.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• alien
• foreigner
• interloper
• newcomer
• stranger