outcast
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈaʊtˌkæst/
KK: /aʊtˌkæst/
adjective
Definition
A person who is rejected or excluded from a group or society.
Example
After the scandal, he felt like an outcast among his friends.
Conversation
I saw Jamie sitting alone at lunch today.
Yeah, I heard she's been feeling like an outcast lately.
That's really sad; I wish people would include her more.
Me too. We should invite her to hang out with us this weekend.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
rejected
ostracized
excluded
Antonyms
accepted
included
welcomed
noun
Definition
A person who has been rejected or excluded from a group or society.
Example
After moving to a new town, he felt like an outcast among his peers.
Conversation
I heard that Jake feels like an outcast at school lately.
That's too bad; I didn't know he was struggling like that.
Yeah, it's really sad to see him feeling like he doesn't belong.
Root Explanation
Outcast → It is formed from "out-" (meaning outside) and "cast" (from Old Norse "kasta", meaning to throw). The word "outcast" refers to someone who has been thrown out or excluded from a group or society.
Memory Tip
Think of someone who has been 'thrown out' ('cast') and is now 'outside' ('out-') of a group — that's what it means to be an outcast.
Visually Confused Words
outlast
outfast
outwaste
outtaste
outfeast
outboast