outlier

American  

[out-lahy-er] / ˈaʊtˌlaɪ ər /

noun

1. something that lies outside the main body or group that it is a part of, such as a cow far from the rest of the herd, or a distant island belonging to a cluster of islands.

   The small factory was an outlier, and unproductive, so the corporation sold it off to private owners who were able to make it profitable.

2. someone who stands apart from other members of a group, such as by differing behavior, beliefs, or religious practices.

   There are a few scientists who are outliers in their views on climate change.

   Synonyms:

   outsider, heretic, iconoclast, dissenter, dissident, bohemian, eccentric, original, maverick, nonconformist

3. Statistics.

   1. an observation that is well outside of the expected range of values in a study or experiment, and which is often discarded from the data set.

      Experience with a variety of data-reduction problems has led to several strategies for dealing with outliers in data sets.

   2. a person whose abilities, achievements, etc., lie outside the range of statistical probability.

4. Geology. a part of a formation left detached through the removal of surrounding parts by erosion.

5. Obsolete. a person residing outside the place of their business, duty, etc.

---

outlier British  

/ ˈaʊtˌlaɪə /

noun

1. an outcrop of rocks that is entirely surrounded by older rocks

2. a person, thing, or part situated away from a main or related body

3. a person who lives away from his place of work, duty, etc

4. statistics a point in a sample widely separated from the main cluster of points in the sample See scatter diagram

---

Etymology

Origin of outlier

First recorded in 1600–10; out- + lier

Example Sentences

That endless abundance wasn’t so endless—once the cry of extreme outliers—gained wide acceptance.

From The Wall Street Journal

One notable outlier is Saudi Arabia, where women outnumber men in the AI-skilled talent pool.

From Barron's

But what truly makes Smith one of the biggest outliers in the sport is that his collegiate story will end in the same place it began.

From The Wall Street Journal

To be sure, a rate cut at the meeting next week is an outlier forecast.

From MarketWatch

Betts, now 33, believes last year was an outlier and he can get back to his previous form.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aberration
• deviation
• eccentricity
• exception
• oddity