outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt 

often attributive

: 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

But outpatient centers — where most treatment happens in California — do not have to adhere to those same standards, and proposals to require state licenses for such centers have been repeatedly quashed. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026

In between, Karina attended three residential rehabs and two outpatient programs. —Joanna Conti, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026

Each patient typically requires 10 to 12 outpatient physical therapy visits. —Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026

Our Pediatric Health Lifestyle Center, which is an incredibly successful program that operates on our pediatric outpatient clinics, is a lifestyle modification program for kids that are screened at risk for diabetes and obesity and includes consultation with nutritionists. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outpatient

• impatient
• inpatient
• patient

Kids Definition

outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt 

: 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 

: a patient who is not hospitalized overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment compare inpatient