out-country
LowFormal, Literary, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
A rural or remote region, away from urban centres.
Foreign or overseas territory; also used to describe something originating from or characteristic of the countryside.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as an adjective ('out-country regions'). As a noun ('the out-country'), it is rare and typically literary. The hyphenated form is standard, though 'out country' (two words) can occasionally be seen.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely to be encountered in historical or literary British contexts. In American English, alternatives like 'backcountry' or 'outback' are more common for the 'remote region' sense.
Connotations
In British usage, often carries a slightly archaic, pastoral, or administrative tone. In American usage, may sound deliberately old-fashioned or borrowed from British English.
Frequency
Extremely low in contemporary speech for both varieties, with a slight edge in historical British texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ADJ] + out-country + [NOUN (areas, people)]preposition + the + out-countryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms directly use 'out-country'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, possibly in historical geography or literary studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be marked as unusual or poetic.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The lord owned several out-country estates in Yorkshire.
- She preferred the quiet pace of out-country life.
American English
- The novel describes the out-country customs of early settlers.
- They sourced out-country lumber for the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He moved from the city to an out-country village.
- The out-country air felt fresh and clean.
- The rebellion found more support in the out-country districts than in the capital.
- Her out-country accent revealed her rural upbringing.
- The minister's policies were deeply unpopular in the out-country, where they were seen as disproportionately urban-focused.
- The anthropologist studied the unique kinship structures of the island's out-country communities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OUT of the main COUNTRY' -> the remote, outer parts.
Conceptual Metaphor
CENTRE-PERIPHERY (the out-country is peripheral, distant from the central, important urban core).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'за границей' (abroad). 'Out-country' is about remoteness within a country, not a different country. For 'foreign country', use 'overseas' or 'abroad'.
- Avoid direct calque 'внешняя страна'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'foreign country' (incorrect).
- Using it in modern casual conversation (register error).
- Omitting the hyphen ('outcountry' is non-standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'out-country' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Outskirts' refers to the outer areas of a specific city or town. 'Out-country' refers to the general rural/remote areas of a region or nation, not tied to a specific urban centre.
No, that is a common error. 'Out-country' does not mean 'outside one's home country'. Use 'abroad', 'overseas', or 'in a foreign country' instead.
No, it is very rare and has an old-fashioned or literary feel. Words like 'the countryside', 'rural areas', or 'the sticks' (informal) are far more common.
It is primarily used as an adjective (e.g., out-country roads). Its use as a noun (e.g., 'travel through the out-country') is archaic and rare.
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