out-group
C1Formal/Academic
Definition
Meaning
A social group that a person does not identify with or belong to; a group perceived as different from one's own.
In sociology and social psychology, the out-group is defined in contrast to the in-group. It can refer to any group viewed as distinct, distant, or rival to one's own, and this perception often leads to in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is fundamentally relational and oppositional; it only makes sense in the context of a specific in-group. It is a technical term from social science but is also used in general discourse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. The hyphenated form 'out-group' is standard in both varieties, though the unhyphenated 'outgroup' is sometimes seen in academic texts.
Connotations
The term carries the same neutral, analytical connotation in both varieties when used in academic contexts. In casual use, it may carry a slightly pejorative sense.
Frequency
More frequent in academic and social science contexts in both regions. Slightly more common in American academic publishing due to the scale of its social science output.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + the/our/their + out-groupthe out-group + [Verb] + by the in-groupout-group + [Noun] (e.g., out-group hostility, out-group member)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Them vs. us mentality”
- “Drawing a line in the sand”
- “Circle the wagons”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in organisational behaviour to describe teams or departments viewed as competitors or not part of the core culture, e.g., 'Marketing often saw R&D as an out-group, hindering collaboration.'
Academic
A core concept in social psychology and sociology for analysing intergroup relations, prejudice, and social identity, e.g., 'The study measured attitudes towards the perceived out-group.'
Everyday
Used informally to describe any social circle one feels excluded from, e.g., 'At the new school, I felt like part of an out-group for weeks.'
Technical
Specific use in evolutionary biology to refer to a species or group used for comparison in phylogenetic analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team began to out-group the new department, blaming them for the delays.
- It's a natural tendency to out-group those with different customs.
American English
- The firm's culture actively out-grouped anyone who didn't work weekends.
- Societies often out-group based on minimal differences.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Standard usage does not include an adverbial form for 'out-group'.
- N/A
American English
- N/A - Standard usage does not include an adverbial form for 'out-group'.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The out-group members were consistently rated less favourably.
- They exhibited strong out-group prejudice.
American English
- Out-group dynamics were a key focus of the research.
- He studied out-group stereotypes in political rhetoric.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The new children felt like an out-group at first.
- My family is my in-group; your family is an out-group to me.
- People often trust their in-group more than an out-group.
- Sports fans see supporters of the other team as an out-group.
- The manager's comments unfairly stigmatised the contractors as an out-group.
- A key symptom of tribalism is the denigration of a perceived out-group.
- The theory posits that strengthening in-group cohesion often necessitates defining a clear out-group.
- Historical analysis reveals how regimes construct a vilified out-group to consolidate power.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of being OUTside of a GROUP. You're not IN, you're OUT.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL GROUPS ARE CONTAINERS (we are 'in', they are 'out'), THE SELF IS A FORTRESS (defending against outsiders).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'внешняя группа' in non-academic contexts; it sounds overly technical. In casual talk, 'чужие' or 'они' is more natural. Do not confuse with 'аутсайдеры' (outsiders), which focuses on individual, not group, status.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'out-group' to refer to a person (it's a collective noun). Incorrect: 'He is an out-group.' Correct: 'He is a member of an out-group.' Forgetting the hyphen and writing 'outgroup' in formal texts.
- Confusing it with 'outcast' (an individual rejected by a group).
Practice
Quiz
In social identity theory, what is the primary function of an 'out-group'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, as a technical term it is neutral, describing a relational category. However, the *treatment* of out-groups (e.g., prejudice, discrimination) is typically negative. The word can carry negative connotations in everyday use.
No, an out-group is a collective. An individual can be *a member of* an out-group or an *outsider*, but not an out-group itself.
An out-group is defined by perception and relation to an in-group (a majority can be an out-group to a powerful minority). A minority group is defined by numerical or social power status. They often overlap but are not synonymous.
The hyphenated form 'out-group' is standard, especially in formal writing. In some specialised academic literature, the closed form 'outgroup' is accepted. Always use the hyphen for general clarity.