outpost
OWT-pohst
/ˈaʊtˌpoʊst/
A small military or scientific camp positioned at a distance from the main body, used to guard against surprise or to conduct research.
Implies extreme isolation, being located on the very edge of civilized or controlled territory.
The story behind the word. Coined in the late 18th century as a military term, combining 'out' (external) and 'post' (a station where soldiers are placed, from the Latin 'positus'). It designated a small group of soldiers stationed at a distance from the main army to watch for approaching enemies and prevent surprise attacks.
Word relationships
- frontier station: A frontier station is any settlement on a border, while an outpost specifically implies a small, isolated, and highly vulnerable camp.
- garrison: A garrison is a permanent military post with a large body of troops, whereas an outpost is small, distant, and temporary.
- headquarters: Headquarters is the central, highly secure command center of an organization, representing the opposite of an isolated outpost.
- metropolis: A metropolis is a massive, central hub of population and development, far removed from the isolation of an outpost.
Commonly confused with
- settlement: A settlement implies a permanent community of families, while an outpost is typically populated only by soldiers, scientists, or workers.
Word family
- outposts (noun): Isolated stations or settlements (plural form).
Collocations
- remote outpost
- scientific outpost
- military outpost
- isolated outpost
Example sentences
- "The remote weather outpost in northern Greenland is staffed by only three scientists during the long winter months." A news report on polar science
- "The lonely military outpost stood on the edge of the territory, serving as a shield against potential raids." A history of the American frontier
Memory hook
Think of a wooden 'post' driven into the ground far 'out' on the edge of the map to mark the boundary. A station ('post') placed far 'out' on the frontier.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a central headquarters, a busy city office, or a suburban retail store.
Fun facts
- Alert, Nunavut, located in Canada, is the northernmost permanently inhabited outpost in the world, situated just 508 miles from the North Pole.
Related words
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