# outlet

/ˈaʊtˌɫɛt/ (US) · /ˈaʊtlɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outlet
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a shop

noun · CEFR B1

a shop that sells goods from a specific brand or company, often for a lower price.

For teachers: a commercial establishment that sells the products of a specific manufacturer or supplier, frequently at a discount.

- 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.

### 2. electrical socket

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

the place in a wall where you plug in machines to get electricity.

For teachers: a point in an electrical circuit where a plug can be inserted to connect an appliance to the power supply.

- 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.

### 3. emotional release

noun · CEFR B2

a way to express strong feelings or energy, like a hobby or sport.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. physical exit

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an opening or pipe that allows air, water, or steam to escape.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Painting is a great creative outlet for her.
- The local community center provides a healthy outlet for teenagers to channel their energy through competitive sports.
- While the factory outlet offers significant discounts on surplus inventory, many consumers use the brand's social media pages as an outlet for voicing their frustrations regarding product durability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.