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

Their vision includes a full-scale recovery campus offering psychiatric stabilization, residential treatment, outpatient support, vocational training, and nutritional and biological research. —Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025

Ardent Health owns 30 hospitals and 280 outpatient care sites across six states. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025

The latest acquisitions include: —La Cholla Medical Plaza in Tucson: two medical outpatient buildings totaling 68,000 square feet. —Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025

In 2024, Frazier Rehab’s outpatient network served more than 400 pediatric patients. —Lillian Metzmeier, The Courier-Journal, 11 Aug. 2025

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