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
On November 21, CMS updated Medicare payment policies and rates for hospital outpatients and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services in 2026.
—
Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Just two years ago, her team opened a new 190,000-square-foot outpatient center that also demanded a sizable hiring effort.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025
The student will undergo inpatient rehabilitation therapy for several more weeks in Houston, and may face up to two years of outpatient rehab.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The nation added 23,000 jobs in ambulatory health care services, a category that includes doctor and dental offices, laboratories, home health care services and other outpatient care.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outpatient
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Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Just two years ago, her team opened a new 190,000-square-foot outpatient center that also demanded a sizable hiring effort.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025
The student will undergo inpatient rehabilitation therapy for several more weeks in Houston, and may face up to two years of outpatient rehab.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The nation added 23,000 jobs in ambulatory health care services, a category that includes doctor and dental offices, laboratories, home health care services and other outpatient care.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outpatient
Cite this Entry
“Outpatient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outpatient. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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