# outlet

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈaʊtlɛt/ · frequency rank #7,163

## Definitions
1. A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something.
2. Something which allows for the release of one's desires.
3. A river that runs out of a lake.
4. A shop that sells the products of a particular manufacturer or supplier.
5. A wall-mounted socket connected to an electrical power supply, at which current can be taken to run electrical devices.

## 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”).

## Easily confused with
- **output** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlet-vs-output)
- **outset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlet-vs-outset)
- **outlier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlet-vs-outlier)
- **outer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outer-vs-outlet)
- **outfit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outfit-vs-outlet)
- **outlaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlaw-vs-outlet)
- **outlay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlay-vs-outlet)
- **outlast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/outlast-vs-outlet)

## Common misspellings (8)
`otulet`, `oultet`, `outelt`, `outlett`, `outllet`, `outlte`, `outtlet`, `uotlet`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/outlet