outpost

noun

out·​post ˈau̇t-ˌpōst How to pronounce outpost (audio)
Synonyms of outpostnext
1
a
: a security detachment dispatched by a main body of troops to protect it from enemy surprise
b
: a military base established by treaty or agreement in another country
2
a
: an outlying or frontier settlement
b
: an outlying branch or position of a main organization or group

Examples of outpost in a Sentence

an American outpost in Africa The city was established as a military outpost in the 1800s. a remote outpost of the old British Empire
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.
Video of the incident obtained by CBS News showed a group of around 20 masked men clad in black or gray clothes descending a hill from the area of an Israeli settlement outpost into an olive grove near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Amid the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, Samuel Gui Yang has created a quiet alcove as the Chinese brand’s first retail outpost. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 The gallery opened two more New Delhi branches in 2021 and a Mumbai outpost in 2024. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Oct. 2026 His black radio was plugged into a small solar panel, which also powered the outpost’s sole light bulb. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outpost

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of outpost was in 1720

Rhymes for outpost

See All Rhymes for outpost

Browse Nearby Words

outporter
outpost
outpour
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Cite this Entry

“Outpost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outpost. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

outpost

noun
out·​post ˈau̇t-ˌpōst How to pronounce outpost (audio)
1
: a guard stationed at a distance from a military force or camp
2
: the position occupied by an outpost
3
: a settlement on a frontier or in a faraway place

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