outpost

/ˌaʊtˈpoʊst/

/ˈaʊtpoʊst/

Other forms: outposts

An outpost is a camp or station that's somewhat isolated. A military outpost acts as a guard or defense against an enemy's attack on the larger military force.

Whenever a small group of people sets up a camp at a distance from the main, larger organization (whether it's military or not), you can call their settlement an outpost. Explorers in the early days of the US set up outposts throughout the West, and many countries establish outposts near their borders with hostile neighbors — encampments for keeping an eye on them. The first written use of outpost is usually ascribed to George Washington.

Definitions of outpost

1. noun

   a military post stationed at a distance from the main body of troops
   type of:

   military post, post

   military installation at which a body of troops is stationed
2. noun

   a station in a remote or sparsely populated location
   synonyms: outstation

   type of:

   post, station

   the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
3. noun

   a settlement on the frontier of civilization
   synonyms: frontier settlement

   type of:

   colony, settlement

   a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government