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

And what do outsiders and onlookers expect from artists working within a war zone? —Hanlu Zhang, Artforum, 10 Mar. 2026

She was regarded as the female Christ by her followers but accused of witchcraft by outsiders. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

Because of Jesse, the Democratic Party changed its rules, ending the winner-take-all distribution of delegates during presidential primaries, which meant underdogs and outsiders like Bill Clinton or Bernie Sanders could stay competitive and build momentum instead of getting knocked out early. —CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

When the shop becomes a refuge for a small community of outsiders, Mila is pushed to confront loss, change and her own fear of letting go. —Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 6 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