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

Bass, who finished about 5 points ahead of Raman in the June primary, sought to portray her challenger as an inexperienced outsider who would struggle to build support at City Hall. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026

That's not to say Isola will fall out of favor, but rather to emphasize that Kornheiser and Wilbon have already lasted longer than most outsiders expected. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Twenty songs, spanning hits and deep cuts, are woven through the story of the Sheffield outsiders who became one of Britain’s most singular cultural exports. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 20 Aug. 2026

Blaming disruption on outsiders is a timeworn strategy to distinguish between us (good) and them (bad), but in fact the majority of people who the NYPD arrested in April 2024 had the correct credentials. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 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