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

His last stay at the orbital outpost garnered global attention when Fincke was overcome with a mysterious ailment, losing the ability to speak for roughly 20 minutes, Fincke later told news outlets, including the AP. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Manos, who left behind her apartment in Los Angeles to move to New Orleans to run the Bellum outpost, remains in Louisiana. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026

Marianna Petridi Tinos is the island outpost of the Athens jewelry gallery, featuring a mix of jewelry, home décor, and ready-to-wear. — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026

Throughout the conflict, the Hmeimem air base and the Tartus naval base were key Russian military outposts in the eastern Mediterranean. — ABC News, 9 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