outcast
B2formal, literary, sometimes journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A person who has been rejected by or excluded from a group, community, or society.
Something or someone cast out, discarded, or in a marginal or isolated position; can also refer figuratively to objects or animals perceived as rejected.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies not just exclusion but a status of being unwanted, despised, or pitied. Conveys a strong sense of social or emotional alienation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in primary meaning or usage. The term is equally understood and used in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotations are negative, focusing on rejection and isolation. May carry a slightly literary or dramatic tone in everyday speech.
Frequency
Similar frequency; slightly more common in written than spoken discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (as in 'an outcast from society')ADJ-N (as in 'outcast status')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(be) treated like an outcast”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically for a company ostracised by an industry.
Academic
Used in sociology, anthropology, and literature to describe social exclusion.
Everyday
Used to describe someone rejected by peers, friends, or family.
Technical
Not typically a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The archaic verb form 'to outcast' is obsolete.
American English
- The verb form is not used in modern English.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- She lived an outcast existence on the edge of the moor.
American English
- He felt outcast and alone in the new city.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He was an outcast at school because he was different.
- After the scandal, she became a social outcast in her town.
- The political dissident lived for years as an outcast from his own country.
- The novel's protagonist is a quintessential outcast, navigating the margins of a society that refuses to accept him.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CAST OUT. An outcast is someone who has been CAST OUT of a group.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A CONTAINER (excluded from it); BELONGING IS BEING INSIDE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'изгой' in every context, as 'изгой' can be more archaic/historical. 'Outcast' is broader. Also, do not confuse with 'outlaw' (вне закона).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They outcast him' is rare; prefer 'cast him out' or 'ostracised him'). Confusing spelling: 'outcast' not 'outcasted' for noun/adjective.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'outcast'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in modern English. The related verb is 'to cast out'. 'Outcast' is primarily a noun and adjective.
An 'outcast' has been actively rejected or expelled. An 'outsider' may simply not belong or be new, without the strong implication of active rejection.
It is more common in formal or literary contexts but is understood and can be used in everyday speech, often for emphasis.
No. For the rare/archaic verb, the past is 'outcast'. In modern usage, use verbs like 'ostracised', 'excluded', or 'cast out'.
Explore