output
OUT-put
/ˈaʊt.pʊt/
The amount of something produced by a person, machine, or industry.
Output is a raw measure of quantity; it doesn't necessarily account for the quality or the cost of producing it.
The story behind the word. A simple compound of 'out' and 'put,' dating back to the 1830s in the context of iron manufacturing and economics.
Word relationships
- production: Production is the process of making things; output is the actual amount made.
- input: Input is what you put into a system (time, money, materials); output is what comes out.
Commonly confused with
- outcome: Output is what you made (e.g., 10 reports); outcome is the result of that work (e.g., the client was happy).
Collocations
- total output
- daily output
- increase output
- creative output
Example sentences
- "The country's industrial output has grown steadily over the last decade." Economics
- "The printer's output was blurry because the ink was running low." Computing
Memory hook
It's what is 'put out' at the end of the day. The final product count.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe the effort put in; that is 'input.'
Fun facts
- In the 19th century, 'output' was also a term used for the act of turning someone out of their house.
Related words
Explore more words
yield, productivity, throughput, outcome, efficient, efficiency
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