outpost

noun

out·​post ˈau̇t-ˌpōst 

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

But what defines a true community — as different from a simple base or an outpost — is that a proper settlement must maintain a self-sustaining population. —Dave S. Brody, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025

The outposts will feature claw machines filled with products, merchandise and grand prizes, including tickets redeemable for the Berry Collection luggage pieces. —Charlie Carballo, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025

The rampaging insect menaces America’s Arctic military outposts, part of a critical line of national defense, before heading south and meeting its end in New York City. —Paul Bierman, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025

Several of the recruits come from Google Research’s Tel Aviv outpost or top Israeli universities – and were recruited for their math and physics expertise. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outpost

• almost
• engrossed
• foremost
• hindmost
• impost
• inmost
• lamppost
• leftmost
• necrosed
• pancoast
• rightmost
• riposte

Kids Definition

outpost

noun

out·​post ˈau̇t-ˌpōst 

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