ouster

noun

oust·​er ˈau̇-stər How to pronounce ouster (audio)
Synonyms of ousternext
1
a
: a wrongful dispossession
b
: a judgment removing an officer or depriving a corporation of a franchise
2
: expulsion
the ouster of the dictator

Examples of ouster in a Sentence

The news reported the ouster of the dictator. the dictator's ouster by the rebels
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Driscoll, an Iraq veteran with bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, departs amid the ouster of his allies and criticism that Hegseth is fueling a dangerous leadership void. — Jonathan J. Cooper, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Among designers idled by fashion’s revolving door, Dario Vitale is perhaps the most whispered about, following his ouster from Versace after a single, acclaimed season, and Prada Group’s acquisition of the house. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 Since the ouster of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro eight months ago, the administration has made some progress in convincing other US oil companies to return to the region. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial, a dramatization of the boardroom turmoil at OpenAI and Sam Altman’s brief ouster, was dropped by Amazon MGM shortly after Amazon deepened its strategic relationship with OpenAI. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ouster

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French, from oster, ouster to oust

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ouster was in 1531

Browse Nearby Words

oust
ouster
out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ouster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ouster. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ouster

noun
oust·​er ˈau̇s-tər How to pronounce ouster (audio)
: the act or an instance of ousting or being ousted

Legal Definition

ouster

noun
oust·​er ˈau̇s-tər How to pronounce ouster (audio)
1
: wrongful dispossession especially of a cotenant
2
: a judgment removing a public officer or depriving a corporation of a public franchise

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