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

Colorado needs to invest in resources such as residential treatment facilities that can bridge the gap after a crisis, or serve kids who need more than outpatient care but haven’t yet gotten sick enough to be hospitalized, Liaw said. —Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025

So 22 outpatient psychiatric research sites agreed to test a proprietary form of LSD called MM120, which comes from the company MindMed. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025

These are usually minimally invasive, outpatient procedures. —Sarah Hudgens, Health, 4 Sep. 2025

With these investments in mind, the country is seeking to significantly enhance its capacity for excellent outpatient medical care. —Newsweek Rankings, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

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