outpost

noun

out·​post ˈau̇t-ˌpōst 

1

a

: a security detachment dispatched by a main body of troops to protect it from enemy surprise

b

: a military base established by treaty or agreement in another country

2

a

: an outlying or frontier settlement

b

: an outlying branch or position of a main organization or group

Examples of outpost in a Sentence

an American outpost in Africa

The city was established as a military outpost in the 1800s.

a remote outpost of the old British Empire

Recent Examples on the Web

Sustainability is a driving force behind the Six Senses brand — especially true of its Kyoto outpost. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2024

The new dining venues will include outposts of Five Vines Wine Bar, Taco’s La Piña, Sgt. —Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024

Kennedy Sanders was killed in a drone attack on a U.S. outpost in Jordan. —Kenny Holston, New York Times, 27 May 2024

Much of the international community condemns the settlers and their outposts as a violation of international law. —Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 26 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

outpost

noun

out·​post ˈau̇t-ˌpōst 

1

: a guard stationed at a distance from a military force or camp

2

: the position occupied by an outpost

3

: a settlement on a frontier or in a faraway place