Outsider: meaning, definitions and examples

Use in situations to describe someone who is not part of a particular group, community, or organization. It emphasizes exclusion or lack of belonging.

• Despite living in the town for years, he always felt like an outsider.
• The team treated her as an outsider because she didn't share their enthusiasm.

Refers to someone who is unknown or unfamiliar to you. It is often used in contexts of caution or unfamiliarity.

• Never accept candy from a stranger.
• He felt uneasy in a room full of strangers.

This term is used to describe someone from another country. It often appears in discussions about nationality, immigration, or cultural differences.

• She felt like a foreigner in a new country where she didn't speak the language.
• The festival was a great experience for foreigners to learn about local traditions.

Use it when referring to someone who is not part of a particular group or who doesn't fit in easily, but not necessarily in a completely negative way.

• He was an outsider in the new school, trying to get to know everyone
• As an outsider, she had a different perspective on the situation

Refers to someone who has been rejected or ostracized by a group, usually with a more serious or negative connotation.

• After the scandal, he became an outcast in his community
• She felt like an outcast when her friends started ignoring her

Applicable when talking about someone who feels out of place or doesn't conform to the norms of a group. It often suggests a rebellious or non-conforming attitude.

• He was always a misfit, never really blending in with his colleagues
• The company was full of creative misfits who challenged traditional ideas

Describes someone who is intensely despised or rejected by society at large; often has a very strong negative connotation.

• Once the news spread, he was treated like a pariah by everyone who knew him
• In ancient times, lepers were considered pariahs and forced to live in isolation

Someone who is not part of a particular group or who is perceived as an observer rather than a participant. It can also refer to someone who is not expected to win a competition.

• As an outsider, she found it difficult to fit in with the tightly-knit group.
• The race was thrilling with an outsider taking the lead in the final lap.

A competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest, often used to garner sympathy or support for the weaker side.

• In this match, the underdog team won the hearts of the audience with their fighting spirit.
• Everyone loves an underdog story where the least likely person comes out on top.

A candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds.

• Nobody expected the dark horse in the election to win, but she surprised everyone.
• The dark horse team made it through to the finals against all odds.

A person or a thing that has little chance of winning or succeeding. Often used when something is attempted despite low probability of success.

• I know it's a long shot, but we should still try to get tickets to the concert.
• Winning the lottery is always a long shot, but it's fun to dream.