outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt 

often attributive

: a patient who is not hospitalized overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment compare inpatient

Examples of outpatient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Patients with a low-income subsidy in Medicare’s outpatient pharmaceutical benefit called Part D, who are used to paying little or nothing out-of-pocket for their medications, get no reduction. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

And moving people into home- and community-based living was supposed to be accompanied by an increase in outpatient care and treatment that never materialized, creating gaps in support. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 31 July 2026

To better understand how common cases might be at a local level, the research team worked with four Atlanta-area hospitals and their affiliated outpatient clinics to look for potential cases from 2020 to 2024. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

Medicare also encompasses Part B for outpatient care, doctor visits, preventive services and medical supplies, and Part D drug coverage. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outpatient

• impatient
• inpatient
• patient

Kids Definition

outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt 

: a patient who visits a hospital for diagnosis or treatment without staying overnight compare inpatient

Medical Definition

outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt 

: a patient who is not hospitalized overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment compare inpatient