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 after a year of big shake-ups at the major labels, as well as the breakthrough drought, the U.K.’s perennial fear of being reduced to just another European outpost of the U.S. industry has sometimes looked closer to reality than ever. —Mark Sutherland, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025

In August 2021, intel on Hamas’ military wing described the plan for a large-scale attack on Israeli communities and military outposts surrounding the Gaza Strip. —Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025

In addition to destroying the outposts, the soldiers demanded that residents hand over any weapons in the village, Mr. al-Mleihan and other villagers said. —Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Ireland’s hottest pizza restaurant, Mani, has just opened its only outpost outside of Dublin in the Village with its famous Carbonara Pizza a firm favourite. —Fairchild Studio, WWD, 22 Feb. 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