Which to use
“outpost” and “output” are a confusable English pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #17,434
- “outpost” frequency rank
- #3,442
- “output” frequency rank
- 20876
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | outpost | output |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A military post stationed at a distance from the main body of troops. | That which is produced by something, especially that which is produced within a particular time period or from a particular effort. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set outpost and output apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. outpost (/ˈaʊtˌpoʊst/) and output (/ˈaʊtpʊt/) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 20876, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
outpost is recorded at frequency rank #17,434, classified as anoun, pronounced /ˈaʊtˌpoʊst/. output is at rank #3,442, tagged as anoun, pronounced /ˈaʊtpʊt/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 20876, this pair ranks #428,021 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of outpost vs output
Shared letters: optu. Private to "outpost": s. Private to "output": -.
"outpost" · 7 letters · shape VVCCVCC · "output" · 6 letters · shape VVCCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "outpost" and "output" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "outpost" or "output"?
Remembering outpost vs output
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “outpost” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable