outpatient

noun

out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt How to pronounce outpatient (audio)
Synonyms of outpatientnext
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
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.
The complex also features a pediatric room and an outpatient surgical center. — Morgan Mullings, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 The money issue is driving people into higher-paying dietitian jobs in private practice or outpatient clinics, or into other fields, like nursing, said Jason Fee. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Under the new deals, the nine companies agreed to provide discounts on outpatient drugs to every state Medicaid program so that prices states pay align with what companies charge in foreign countries. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 What once could require four to six hours of surgery and days of hospitalization can now often be performed as an outpatient procedure. — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outpatient

Word History

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outpatient was in 1715

Rhymes for outpatient

See All Rhymes for outpatient

Browse Nearby Words

outpass
outpatient
outpayment
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

outpatient

noun
out·​pa·​tient ˈau̇t-ˌpā-shənt How to pronounce outpatient (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce outpatient (audio)
: a patient who is not hospitalized overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment compare inpatient

More from Merriam-Webster on outpatient

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for outpatient

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