outside voice
noun
plural outside voices
1
: a person whose opinion, perspective, etc. differs from one's own or from that of a particular group
By being an objective outside voice, the board chair can reduce the likelihood of extreme performance outcomes …—Ryan Krause et al.
Convinced I was right, I sought an outside voice: Judge John Hodgman, the comedian who writes a satiric ethical advice column for The New York Times Magazine. I explained our impasse in an email, and Hodgman replied in the May 20 issue …—Andrew Silow-Carroll
The hard part about relationships is just trying to be in one without a million outside voices interfering.—Travis Scott, quoted at usmagazine.com
My personal insight and advice to you is … to quiet outside voices, grow a backbone, and to be in charge of your life …—Amy Dickinson
also
: an opinion, perspective, etc. that differs from one's own or that of a particular group
This is a painstakingly crafted treatise on what it's like to live inside your own mind in an age where millions of outside voices are bombarding that mind endlessly. —Drew Magary
… a long piece, with some good outside voices in it, was unplanned and written in one intense sprint. —Bradford Doolittle
2
: a volume of speaking that is typically considered too loud to be used indoors (as at home or school)
… corrections like "sit still" or "you're using your outside voice, please use your inside voice" …—Nancy Doyle
… at exactly the moment we were walking past a lineup at the check-out, in all innocence, she [a young child] used her loud outside voice and asked: "What colour are your panties, Grandma?"—Helene Oseen
compare inside voice
Cite this Entry
“Outside voice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outside%20voice. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
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