outlet

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noun out·let \ˈau̇t-ˌlet, -lət\

Definition of outlet

1a : a place or opening through which something is let out : exit, ventb : a means of release or satisfaction for an emotion or impulse sexual outletsc : a medium of expression or publicationd : a publication or broadcast organization media outlets
2 : a stream flowing out of a lake or pond
3a : a market for a commodityb : an agency (such as a store) through which a product is marketed retail outlets
4 : a receptacle for the plug of an electrical device

See outlet defined for English-language learners

See outlet defined for kids

Examples of outlet in a Sentence

this road is the only outlet for traffic coming from the racetrack
technology has provided many new outlets for amateur writers and artists to share their work with a global audience

Recent Examples of outlet from the Web

Various news outlets have reported that its range has the potential to reach Alaska and the coast of Canada.

— jeanette steele, sandiegouniontribune.com, "North Korea fired a new ICBM missile. Here's video of the U.S.-S. Korean response", 5 July 2017
As for what Trump will discuss with Putin, the issue of Russia’s 2016 election meddling will be relegated to the back burner, multiple outlets are reporting.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Reportedly Prepping for Putin Meeting With ‘Tweet-Length’ Briefings", 5 July 2017
Mindy Peterson, a spokeswoman for the RiverLink program, said more than 380 Speedway outlets in the two states, including around two dozen in the Louisville area, have the kits in stock.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Now you can buy a prepaid transponder at Speedway for your commute", 29 June 2017
Cho then expanded the toppings station even further, realizing the creative outlet food can offer.

— jake fischer, SI.com, "'Eat because it's a window into a culture': 76ers chef's journey from Seoul to Seattle to the NBA", 29 June 2017
The only other option for cities is to totally ban medical marijuana retail outlets.

— joey flechas and lance dixon, miamiherald, "State law invalidated Miami Beach’s proposed medical marijuana zoning; now what?", 28 June 2017
Sanders has echoed President Trump's disdain for many traditional media outlets, including CNN, which retracted a story about the Trump campaign's alleged connections to Russia.

— kayleigh roberts, Cosmopolitan, "Who Is Sarah Huckabee Sanders? 10 Things to Know About the White House's Deputy Press Secretary.", 28 June 2017
Chicago is among the first markets in the country to roll out Xfinity Mobile retail outlets.

— robert channick, chicagotribune.com, "Comcast launching mobile phone kiosks within 5 Chicago-area Xfinity stores", 27 June 2017
Content writer: Use your writing and editing skills to research stories, write original articles and content for publishers, proofread and edit content, and manage projects, among other tasks, for a variety of outlets and websites.

— jessica mattern, Woman's Day, "10 Flexible Jobs for Busy Stay-at-Home Moms", 26 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outlet'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of outlet

Middle English ut-lete, from ut out + -lete watercourse, from Old English gelǣt, from lǣtan to let

NEW!

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

OUTLET Defined for English Language Learners

outlet

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noun

Definition of outlet for English Language Learners

: something that people use to express their emotions or talents
: a store that sells products made usually by one company and often at reduced prices
: a television, radio, or publishing company

OUTLET Defined for Kids

outlet

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noun out·let \ˈau̇t-ˌlet\

Definition of outlet for Students

1 : a place or opening for letting something out The lake has several outlets.
2 : a way of releasing or expressing a feeling or impulse I needed an outlet for my anger.
3 : a device (as in a wall) into which the prongs of an electrical plug are inserted for making connection with an electrical circuit

Medical Dictionary

outlet

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noun out·let \ˈau̇t-ˌlet, -lət\

Medical Definition of outlet

1: an opening or a place through which something is let out the pelvic outlet
2: a means of release or satisfaction for an emotion or impulse counseling provides an outlet for expressing and evaluating their feelings—Vicki Glaser