Oust means to removetake away or get rid of a person from a role or place someone from a position, or to push something aside and replaceput one thing in place of another it with something new. It is often used in politics, business, and other formalused in serious, official, or official-sounding situations contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /aʊst/
Easy pronunciation: OWST (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed on the whole word.
Used here in the verb sense meaning to remove someone from a position or office.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Oust Meaning
to force someone out of a job, role, or position
Part of speech: verb
Definition: remove from a position or office
Example: The chairman was ousted after he misappropriated funds.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- expel — Works in some contexts, but it is less specific and often sounds harsher or more general than oust.
- boot out — Informal; can work when the meaning is forcing someone out, but it is less formal than oust.
- drum out — Can fit the sense of forcing someone out, especially from an organization, but it is less common.
- kick out — Informal and broader than oust; it works when someone is removed from a role or place.
- throw out — Can work in some contexts, but it is broader and often suggests dismissal rather than formal removal from office.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Oust
Meaning 2
to make something or someone no longer used because something new takes its place
Part of speech: verb
Definition: remove and replace
Example: The word processor has ousted the typewriter.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Oust Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- expel
- boot out
- kick out
- throw out
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use oust as if it simply means 'remove' in any situation, but it usually means forcing someone out of a role or replacing one thing with another.
- Do not confuse oust with ordinary physical removal; it usually has a stronger sense of displacement or removal from power.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does oust mean in simple English?
Oust means to force someone out of a position, or to replace one thing with another.
Is oust formal or informal?
Oust is usually a fairly formal word, especially in news, politics, and business writing.
What are common synonyms for oust?
Common synonyms include expel, boot out, kick out, and throw out, depending on the context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-31. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
