out-group
UK[ˈaʊt ɡruːp]US[ˈaʊt ɡruːp]
n
A group of people perceived as distinct from one's own group (the in-group) and often viewed with feelings of rivalry, prejudice, or indifference.
Morpheme Breakdown
out
group
out
external, beyond
group
collection
Etymology
The term is a modern sociological compound, formed in English from two native elements. 'Out' derives from the Old English 'ūt', a common Germanic adverb and preposition indicating exteriority. 'Group' entered English from French in the 17th century, tracing back to the Italian 'gruppo' for a cluster or knot. The compound 'out-group' was coined in the early 20th century by sociologist William G. Sumner as a direct contrast to 'in-group'. Its logic is transparently spatial: the 'out-group' is literally the collection of people positioned outside the boundaries of one's own social unit, a concept central to theories of social identity and intergroup relations.
Analysis
Structure: out (external, beyond) + group (collection)
- out: Old English origin, meaning "out, outside, outward, away." Functions as a prefix indicating externality or separation.
- group: French origin, from Italian 'gruppo', ultimately of Germanic origin. Functions as the core noun denoting a collection of individuals.
Examples
Humans often display favoritism towards their in-group while holding negative stereotypes about the out-group.
The study examined how perceptions of a rival out-group affected team cohesion.
Effective leadership requires building bridges with out-groups to reduce conflict.