as in inpatients
a person who goes to a doctor's office or hospital for treatment but who does not spend the night there
—often used before another noun
outpatient surgery It was a minor procedure that could be performed at an outpatient clinic.
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Recent Examples of outpatients
The study also found that the number of children aged fiveto 17 who were prescribed leucovorin as outpatients increased by 71 percent.
—
Sara Novak, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026
When people were also treated with a long-acting form of an opioid-blocking medication called naltrexone, relapse rates dropped across all settings — to 59% after short-term inpatient care, 46% after long-term inpatient care and 38% for those treated as outpatients.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Xofluza is not recommended during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for outpatients with complicated or progressive illness, severely immunosuppressed people or hospitalized patients, because of the lack of information on its use for these groups.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
On November 21, CMS updated Medicare payment policies and rates for hospital outpatients and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services in 2026.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
In 2023 about 88% of Weiss’ inpatients and nearly 67% of its outpatients were on Medicare or Medicaid, according to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Sara Novak, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026
When people were also treated with a long-acting form of an opioid-blocking medication called naltrexone, relapse rates dropped across all settings — to 59% after short-term inpatient care, 46% after long-term inpatient care and 38% for those treated as outpatients.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Xofluza is not recommended during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for outpatients with complicated or progressive illness, severely immunosuppressed people or hospitalized patients, because of the lack of information on its use for these groups.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
On November 21, CMS updated Medicare payment policies and rates for hospital outpatients and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services in 2026.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
In 2023 about 88% of Weiss’ inpatients and nearly 67% of its outpatients were on Medicare or Medicaid, according to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outpatients
Noun
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In that time, the number of people admitted to hospitals in the state as inpatients due to heat increased 60%, from 990 to 1,578.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Outpatient services at the neighboring hospital were suspended and around 3,500 inpatients were evacuated, per the Post.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Gabapentin has proved effective at helping some mastectomy patients with stubborn pain, while others have responded to electrodes implanted in their spinal column, according to the Baylor study, published in 2024.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, physical therapists usually recommend patients put tape on their Achilles tendon, back, knee or the soles of their feet.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outpatients.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outpatients. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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