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Outcast: meaning, definitions and examples

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outcast

 

[ ˈaʊtˌkæst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

rejected individual

A person who has been rejected or ostracized by society or a particular group, often for not conforming to social norms or expectations. Outcasts may experience feelings of loneliness, alienation, and isolation.

Synonyms

exile, misfit, outlier, outlier, pariah.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
outcast

Used to describe someone who has been rejected or ostracized by society or a social group.

  • After the scandal, he felt like a social outcast at work
pariah

A person who is despised or rejected by society, usually carrying a strong negative connotation.

  • After the scandal, he became a pariah and was shunned by his community
outlier

Refers to a person or thing that is different from others in a specific context, often used in statistical or analytical settings.

  • In the study, his results were considered an outlier and were excluded from the final analysis
misfit

Describes a person who is not suited to a particular environment or group, often feeling uncomfortable or not accepted.

  • She always felt like a misfit in her conservative hometown
exile

Typically refers to someone who has been forced to leave their country, either for political reasons or as a punishment.

  • The former king lived in exile for many years after the revolution

Examples of usage

  • He felt like an outcast in his own family, always being treated differently.
  • She became an outcast at school after standing up against bullying.
  • The outcast sought refuge in the wilderness, away from judgmental eyes.

Translations

Translations of the word "outcast" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pária

🇮🇳 त्यागा हुआ व्यक्ति

🇩🇪 Ausgestoßener

🇮🇩 orang buangan

🇺🇦 відщепенець

🇵🇱 wyrzutek

🇯🇵 追放者

🇫🇷 paria

🇪🇸 paria

🇹🇷 dışlanmış

🇰🇷 추방자

🇸🇦 منبوذ

🇨🇿 vyvrhel

🇸🇰 vyvrheľ

🇨🇳 被排斥者

🇸🇮 odpadnik

🇮🇸 útskúfaður

🇰🇿 қуғындалған

🇬🇪 გარიყული

🇦🇿 kənarlaşdırılmış

🇲🇽 paria

Etymology

The term 'outcast' originated in the mid-16th century, combining 'out' and 'cast'. It originally referred to someone who had been cast out or expelled from a group. Over time, the word evolved to encompass individuals who were socially marginalized or rejected.

See also: cast, castaway, caste, caster, casting, castle, forecast, uncast.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,421, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.