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

In addition to the Huangs’ $75 million gift, Vanderbilt has raised more than $25 million for its California outpost. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Arrakis currently has five customers and plans to triple its headcount from roughly 15, opening outposts in New York and the Middle East. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 22 July 2026

In 1961 India adopted the Forward Policy, which established a series of military outposts along the contested border, amid ongoing clashes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026

The final devastating raid by English buccaneers in 1686 left the outpost stripped of the very riches that had invited its ruin. — Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 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