# outpost

/ˈaʊtˌpoʊst/ (US) · /ˈaʊtpəʊst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outpost
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. military station

noun · CEFR B2

a small military camp or building that is far away from the main army to watch for enemies.

For teachers: a military station established at a distance from the main body of troops to prevent surprises or monitor enemy movement.

- The soldiers at the desert outpost watched the horizon for any signs of movement.
- The remote mountain outpost served as an early warning system, allowing the main garrison to prepare for any potential incursions from the border.

### 2. remote settlement

noun · CEFR B2

a small town or office in a distant place, often far from other people.

For teachers: an outlying settlement or branch of an organisation located in a remote or sparsely populated area.

- The company opened a small trading outpost in the northern forest.
- What began as a lonely scientific outpost eventually grew into a permanent research station housing dozens of international experts.

### 3. chess square

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a square on the board that is protected by your pieces and hard for the opponent to attack.

For teachers: a square, usually on the fifth or sixth rank, that is protected by a pawn and cannot be easily attacked by an enemy pawn.

- The player moved his knight to a strong outpost in the centre of the board.
- By establishing a knight on the d5 outpost, White exerted significant pressure on the opponent's kingside throughout the middle game.

## Examples

- The soldiers guarded a small outpost in the mountains.
- The company established a new trading outpost in the desert to reach customers in the remote northern provinces.
- What began as a lonely military outpost on the edge of the frontier eventually grew into a thriving commercial hub as more settlers arrived.

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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.