outsider

noun

out·​sid·​er ˌau̇t-ˈsī-dər How to pronounce outsider (audio)
ˈau̇t-ˌsī-
Synonyms of outsidernext
1
: a person who does not belong to a particular group
2
chiefly British : a contender not expected to win
outsiderness noun

Examples of outsider in a Sentence

To outsiders, the ritual may seem strange. She felt like an outsider in her new school. An outsider defeated the champion! She was a rank outsider who managed to win.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Reality, in the form of age and favoritism, says Sieler, the 2024 team MVP, is a bit of an outsider. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026 Three other major candidates, all political newcomers, say an outsider is needed to shake up the status quo. Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026 Set in the '90s against the backdrop of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, Derry Girls follows the adventures of five Catholic school outsiders who can’t seem to keep themselves out of mischief. Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026 After overhauls throughout the rest of CBS News under Bari Weiss, all eyes are on what happens when Simon's contract is up and whether an outsider might be brought in to run the program for the first time ever. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outsider

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outsider was in 1800

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outsider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outsider. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

outsider

noun
out·​sid·​er (ˈ)au̇t-ˈsīd-ər How to pronounce outsider (audio)
: a person who does not belong to a particular group

More from Merriam-Webster on outsider

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster