ouster

noun

oust·​er ˈau̇-stər 

1

a

: a wrongful dispossession

b

: a judgment removing an officer or depriving a corporation of a franchise

2

: expulsion

the ouster of the dictator

Examples of ouster in a Sentence

The news reported the ouster of the dictator.

the dictator's ouster by the rebels

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Variety, Allen had been lobbying for the slot since Colbert's ouster was announced in July 2025. —Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 12 May 2026

According to multiple current and former employees who spoke to NPR for this story, Dees's ouster marked the beginning of a new period of internal turmoil. —Odette Yousef, NPR, 12 May 2026

The board’s ouster comes amid a purge of independent scientific and research groups whose purpose is to advise the federal government’s science and health policies. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026

The president dodged questions about Makary's potential ouster on Friday. —Kristin Brown, CBS News, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French, from oster, ouster to oust

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

ouster

noun

oust·​er ˈau̇s-tər 

: the act or an instance of ousting or being ousted

Legal Definition

ouster

noun

oust·​er ˈau̇s-tər 

1

: wrongful dispossession especially of a cotenant

2

: a judgment removing a public officer or depriving a corporation of a public franchise