outback

noun

out·​back ˈau̇t-ˈbak How to pronounce outback (audio)
-ˌbak
Synonyms of outbacknext
: isolated rural country especially of Australia

Examples of outback in a Sentence

people who live in the Australian outback tend to be self-sufficient
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.
Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees. Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026 Once the work is complete, the capsule reenters the atmosphere at some 18,000 miles per hour, parachuting down with a bump in the Australian outback. Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 15 May 2026 The Deb dispute is playing out across different fronts in Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing the feel-good movie about outback teens attending a debutante ball. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026 The changes bring a bit of the Australian outback to the zoo for koalas, which are an endangered species. Cody Jackson, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outback

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outback was in 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outback. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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