noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/ˈaʊtˌpoʊst/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊst
CMU ARPABET:AW1 T P OW2 S T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A military post stationed at a distance from the main body of troops.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The outpost did not have enough ammunition to resist a determined assault.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The body of troops manning such a post.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Sgt. Smith fleeced most of the rest of the outpost of their earnings in their weekly game of craps.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A sentinel positioned outside.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An outlying settlement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Beyond the border proper, there are three small outposts not officially under government protection.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A square protected by a pawn that is in or near the enemy's stronghold.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: board-games, chess, games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
a military post stationed at a distance from the main body of troops
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: military post, post
7
noun
Meaning 7
a settlement on the frontier of civilization
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: frontier settlement
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: colony, settlement
8
noun
Meaning 8
a station in a remote or sparsely populated location
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: outstation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: post, station
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úd Proto-Germanic *ūt Proto-Germanic *ūt- Old English ūt- Middle English ut- English out- English post English outpost From out- + post.
Across languages
Translations
54 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bengali:
থানা
(thana)
— A military post
Bulgarian:
ава́нпо́ст
(avánpóst)
— A military post
Danish:
forpost
— A military post
Dutch:
voorpost
— A military post
Dutch:
buitenpost
— A military post
Finnish:
etuvartio
— A military post
Finnish:
etuvartioasema
— A military post
French:
avant-poste
— A military post
French:
poste avancé
— A military post
German:
Vorposten
— A military post
Greek:
προφυλακή
(profylakí)
— A military post
Hebrew:
מוצב חוץ
— A military post
Irish:
urphost
— A military post
Italian:
avamposto
— A military post
Macedonian:
пре́тстража
(prétstraža)
— A military post
Norwegian Bokmål:
utpost
— A military post
Norwegian Nynorsk:
utpost
— A military post
Polish:
czata
— A military post
Polish:
forpoczta
— A military post
Portuguese:
posto avançado
— A military post
Romanian:
avanpost
— A military post
Russian:
аванпо́ст
(avanpóst)
— A military post
Russian:
форпо́ст
(forpóst)
— A military post
Russian:
заста́ва
(zastáva)
— A military post
Russian:
кордо́н
(kordón)
— A military post
Spanish:
avanzadilla
— A military post
Spanish:
puesto avanzado
— A military post
Spanish:
puesto de avanzada
— A military post
Turkish:
ileri karakol
— A military post
Vietnamese:
tiền đồn
— A military post
Welsh:
rhagorsaf
— A military post
Yiddish:
אַוואַנפּאָסט
(avanpost)
— A military post
Finnish:
etuvartio
— The troops themselves
Greek:
προφυλακή
(profylakí)
— The troops themselves
Polish:
czata
— The troops themselves
Polish:
forpoczta
— The troops themselves
Spanish:
avanzada
— The troops themselves
Spanish:
destacamento
— The troops themselves
Dutch:
buitenpost
— An outlying settlement
Finnish:
syrjäkylä
— An outlying settlement
Finnish:
syrjäasutus
— An outlying settlement
German:
Außenposten
— An outlying settlement
Greek:
προφυλακή
(profylakí)
— An outlying settlement
Hebrew:
מאחז
— An outlying settlement
Norwegian Bokmål:
utpost
— An outlying settlement
Norwegian Nynorsk:
utpost
— An outlying settlement
Polish:
oddalona osiedla
— An outlying settlement
Romanian:
avanpost
— An outlying settlement
Spanish:
colonia
— An outlying settlement
Spanish:
comunidad
— An outlying settlement
Turkish:
ileri karakol
— An outlying settlement
Welsh:
rhagorsaf
— An outlying settlement
Finnish:
etuvartioasema
— A chess square
Polish:
pole ochronione przez pion
— A chess square
