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

Ashley Garibay lived in Stockton, California, and worked at an In-N-Out location there but would travel to other new outposts of the burger spot to train workers, the young woman's family said in a statement to KCRA-TV. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Season 4 cast members Laura Dern, AJ Michalka and Marissa Long were spotted at the Mouse House’s French outpost on Sunday, apparently on a break from filming the latest season, which is set in the south of France. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026

Business reporter Caroline Petrow-Cohen details the comeback plans, which include Vegas outposts and lobster on a stick. — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Gagosian will continue to operate its London outposts at 20 Grosvenor Hill and 17–19 Davies Street in Mayfair. — News Desk, Artforum, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outpost

• almost
• engrossed
• foremost
• hindmost
• impost
• inmost
• lamppost
• leftmost
• necrosed
• pancoast
• rightmost
• riposte

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