outsider

[ out-sahy-der ]

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.

outsider

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of outsider¹

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

Example Sentences

While Trump had long been expected to pick an "outsider" for the role of national intelligence director, some elected officials were still caught off-guard by the selection of someone who has no formal intelligence experience.

From Salon

Lennox read the book after a friend gave it to him several years ago and, like a true Irishman, was skeptical that an outsider could capture the complexities of his community.

From Los Angeles Times

An inspiring or “authentic” outsider identity is a proven way to work around the problem.

From Slate

And Ocasio-Cortez has outsider credibility that other potential candidates—Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, all of whom have their merits but are, at heart, professional-class overachievers—do not.

From Slate

Voters instead chose a political outsider, wealthy philanthropist and Levi’s heir Daniel Lurie, who promised to shut down open-air drug markets and make San Francisco less welcoming to street encampments.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alien
• foreigner
• interloper
• newcomer
• stranger