outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt How to pronounce outpatient (audio)
often attributive
Synonyms of outpatientnext
: a patient who is not hospitalized overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment compare inpatient

Examples of outpatient in a Sentence

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.
People who are more likely to visit an outpatient or emergency department are children under 5 and seniors over 85, according to the CDC. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, as acetaminophen orders fell, new outpatient prescriptions for a drug called leucovorin increased sharply for children between ages 5 and 17, the analysis found. Liz Neporent, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 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 Baptist Health South Florida, the region’s largest not-for-profit healthcare system, also has physician practices, urgent care centers and outpatient centers across South Florida, including in Broward County. Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outpatient

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outpatient was in 1715

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outpatient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outpatient. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

outpatient

noun
out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt How to pronounce outpatient (audio)
: a patient who visits a hospital for diagnosis or treatment without staying overnight compare inpatient

Medical Definition

outpatient

noun
out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt How to pronounce outpatient (audio)
: a patient who is not hospitalized overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment compare inpatient

More from Merriam-Webster on outpatient

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