outsider

noun

out·​sid·​er ˌau̇t-ˈsī-dər 

ˈau̇t-ˌsī-

1

: a person who does not belong to a particular group

2

chiefly British : a contender not expected to win

outsiderness noun

Synonyms of outsider

• stranger
• foreigner

Examples of outsider in a Sentence

To outsiders, the ritual may seem strange.

She felt like an outsider in her new school.

An outsider defeated the champion!

She was a rank outsider who managed to win.

Recent Examples on the Web

As Agnes, Infiniti plays opposite Lucy Halliday as Daisy, who is a Pearl, an outsider who has been permitted entry into the Aunts’ domain. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026

Before making any decisions about how, what or whether to gift anything to the new baby, ask your grandson whether accepting a gift from an outsider is even allowed. —Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026

Ai, a Chinese Vietnamese American filmmaker and writer, focuses on rebels and outsiders of mainstream culture. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026

Hopkins is, perhaps, the closest thing this story has to a Kornev—a principled outsider who ultimately overestimates the value of his own empathy and knowledge. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outsider

• collider
• confider
• divider
• insider
• provider
• cider
• cyder
• eider
• glider
• hider
• rider
• schneider

Kids Definition

outsider

noun

out·​sid·​er (ˈ)au̇t-ˈsīd-ər 

: a person who does not belong to a particular group