Definitions
01a shop
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a shop that sells goods from a specific brand or company, often for a lower price.
n. a commercial establishment that sells the products of a specific manufacturer or supplier, frequently at a discount.
日本語:アウトレット※
“We went to the designer outlet to find some cheaper running shoes.”
“The manufacturer opened a factory outlet on the outskirts of the city to clear out surplus inventory from the previous season.”
02electrical socket
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. the place in a wall where you plug in machines to get electricity.
n. a point in an electrical circuit where a plug can be inserted to connect an appliance to the power supply.
日本語:コンセント※
“I need to find an outlet to charge my phone before it dies.”
“The technician installed several additional outlets in the home office to accommodate the new server and dual-monitor setup.”
Usage
Commonly called a 'socket' or 'plug' in British English.
Synonyms
03emotional release
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a way to express strong feelings or energy, like a hobby or sport.
n. a means of expressing or releasing pent-up emotions, creative energy, or impulses.
“Painting provides a great creative outlet for her after a stressful day at work.”
“For many teenagers, competitive sports serve as a vital physical outlet for the frustrations of academic life.”
04physical exit
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. an opening or pipe that allows air, water, or steam to escape.
n. an opening or passage through which a liquid or gas can exit a confined space.
“The water flows out of the lake through a small outlet at the southern end.”
“Engineers inspected the main outlet of the dam to ensure that the overflow system could handle the seasonal rains.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “outlet” in context.
Verb
01. find a creative outlet
“After a stressful day at the office, she finds a creative outlet in oil painting.”
verb + adj + noun
02. provide an outlet for creativity
“The community theater provides an outlet for creativity that many local residents appreciate.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. seek a healthy outlet
“Young people often seek a healthy outlet for their energy through competitive sports.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. emotional outlet
“Writing in a journal served as a vital emotional outlet during his recovery.”
adj + noun
05. retail outlet
“The brand plans to open a new retail outlet in the city center by next spring.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. electrical outlet
“Make sure the electrical outlet is properly grounded before plugging in the heavy machinery.”
adj + noun
07. media outlet
“Several major media outlets reported on the diplomatic breakthrough this morning.”
noun + noun
08. outlets reported
Real-World Examples
“Food prices have also fallen since the 1990s, partly because of increased competition between the major supermarkets alongside an increase in fast food outlets and home delivery.” “Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5.” “But Habba has been one of the president’s most vocal defenders on conservative outlets.” Etymology
From Middle English outlete, outeleate, ut-lete, derived from Middle English outleten (“to allow, let out, emit”), equivalent to out- + let. Compare West Frisian útlit (“outlet”), Dutch uitlaat (“outlet”), German Auslass (“outlet”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/outlet
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0