outsize

1 of 2

noun

out·​size ˈau̇t-ˌsīz 

: an unusual size

especially : a size larger than the standard

Nightgowns are generally made in three sizes—small, medium and outsize.

—Amy K. Smith

outsize

2 of 2

adjective

out·​size ˈau̇t-ˌsīz 

variants or less commonly outsized

ˈau̇t-ˌsīzd 

1

: unusually large or heavy

Physically he is outsize, standing six feet three and weighing 225 pounds …

—Neil M. Clark

2

: exaggerated or extravagant in size or degree

… they loved Mayweather for his outsize persona and the reminder it carries of the sport's past glories.

—Carlo Rotella

He was wearing a huge fur hat, a purple jacket with outsize shoulders, and two pairs of spectacles, in tiers, emphasizing the narrow length of his face.

—Anthony Haden-Guest

Synonyms of outsize

Adjective

• large
• sizable
• considerable
• substantial
• oversize
• big
• huge
• great

Examples of outsize in a Sentence

Adjective

an outsize cat who weighs 25 pounds

she likes to make dramatic appearances wearing her trademark outsize sunglasses

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

And those drops have an outsize effect because AI stocks have grown into Wall Street’s largest and most influential, giving movements for their stock prices more weight on indexes than others. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Even the idea of billionaires exerting outsize influence on creative decisions isn’t new. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 25 June 2026

An outsize critical and commercial hit, the novel won a Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and Kirkus Prize, and is in the works as a film produced by Steven Spielberg. — Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 June 2026

Leading Latino political strategists are examining the races where Latinos could play an outsize role in this year's midterm elections, and believe their votes will be critical in a number of House races. — Anne Bryson, CBS News, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outsize

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

outsize

1 of 2 noun

out·​size ˈau̇t-ˌsīz 

: a size different and especially larger than the standard

outsize

2 of 2 adjective

variants also outsized

-ˌsīzd 

: unusually large or heavy