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

Mr. Skoufis, who in an announcement video declared himself both an “outsider” and an “underdog,” enters the race without a single endorsement from one of the 448 voting members of the national committee.

From New York Times

“Given that NIH restructuring is squarely on the table now,” Sharpless says, “this may be the right time for an outsider.”

From Science Magazine

Unlike previous efforts led by outsiders, this project aims to inspire a sense of ownership over and responsibility for the sites among local people.

From Science Magazine

In her memoir Abida describes the discrimination she began facing in Bhopal; how her family, who had lived there peacefully for generations, began to be treated as "outsiders".

From BBC

The researchers found that adult chimpanzees were more likely to engage in social play before participating in group activities, such as monkey hunting or territorial defense against hostile outsiders.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• alien
• foreigner
• interloper
• newcomer
• stranger