outnumbered

USAGE SUMMARY

'outnumbered' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that a smaller group or number of people or things is being overwhelmed or overwhelmed by a larger group or number. For example: "The protesters were outnumbered by the police officers ten to one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Karlheinz Förster had an excellent match in the middle of the defence but Felix Magath and Norbert Eder were consistently outnumbered in midfield and Matthaeus's duties in staying goalside of Maradona prevented him from supporting attacks in his usual way.

The Guardian - Sport

But, unlike five years ago, his is no longer a Tory target seat and their campaign team – today at least – is outnumbered about two-to-one by his Labour rivals.

The Guardian

Looked at in this way, the question we need to answer is less "Why do so few girls choose physics?" and more "Why do so many boys only choose physics and maths-related subjects?" After all, if they spread themselves out across all other subjects, girls would no longer be regularly outnumbered in physics.

The Guardian

But they are outnumbered by Blatter's supporters in Asia, South America and, especially, Africa.

The Guardian - Sport

A Daily Telegraph front page which claimed that New South Wales disability support pensioners (DSP) outnumbered Australia's total war wounded by more than 44,000 has been ruled offensive by the press council and found to have breached the media watchdog's standards of practice.

The Guardian

Windows 10 will aim to entice users put off by Windows 8, whose lack of a start menu (introduced in 1995 with Windows 95) was more suitable for touch interfaces than a keyboard and a mouse – even though keyboard-reliant users outnumbered touch users by millions to one.

The Guardian - Tech

Although the government has an overall majority of 12 seats in the Commons, Cameron is massively outnumbered in the House of Lords, and his whips will have to be alert to any signs of rebellions by backbench MPs, possibly made restive by the prime minister's promotion of an insufficiently ambitious EU renegotiation agenda.

The Guardian

By now the individual songs on my hard drive vastly outnumbered those on the CDs I owned.

The Guardian - Music

The dozen or so soldiers posted to Chibok were outnumbered and outgunned by up to 100 militants, witnesses said.

The Guardian

Torres talked about being an Atlético fan who felt outnumbered and had almost always lost but would not hide; about rivals who do not "feel" their football like atléticos do.

The Guardian - Sport

Most had boyfriends, but not at Bletchley, where women outnumbered the men four to one: "We were playing away," Webb recalled of her Canadian boyfriend – who never learned one word of what they were working on.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outnumbered" to clearly and concisely convey that one group is smaller in number than another, creating a sense of disadvantage or imbalance. Ensure the context provides a clear understanding of what is being compared.

Common error

Avoid using "outnumbered" without a clear reference point. Make sure it's obvious what two entities or groups are being compared in terms of quantity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outnumbered" is as a past participle or past tense verb. It describes a state where one group is numerically inferior to another. Ludwig AI shows many examples of it describing military forces, teams, or even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "outnumbered" is a versatile verb form used to describe situations where one group is numerically inferior to another. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "outnumbered", ensure a clear comparison is established to maintain clarity. Related phrases include "exceeded in number" and "were in the minority", each offering a slightly different nuance. The linguistic analysis indicates that the register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for a wide range of writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were outnumbered significantly

Adds emphasis to the disparity in numbers, making it clear the difference was noticeable.

exceeded in number

Focuses on the numerical difference, emphasizing that one group surpasses another in quantity.

were less numerous

A more formal and direct way of stating that the group was smaller in number.

were in the minority

Highlights the smaller size of the group compared to the larger one.

were dwarfed by

Emphasizes the significant size difference, making the smaller group seem insignificant.

faced superior numbers

Highlights the challenge or difficulty caused by the larger opposing force.

were outgunned

Specifically refers to a disadvantage in terms of weaponry or resources.

were overwhelmed by

Focuses on the feeling of being overpowered due to the larger number or force.

were thin on the ground

Indicates a lack of personnel or resources in a specific area or situation.

were in short supply

Focuses on the scarcity of resources or individuals in comparison to the demand or need.

FAQs

How do you use "outnumbered" in a sentence?

The word "outnumbered" indicates that one group is smaller in number than another. For example, "The protesters were "outnumbered" by the police."

What is the difference between "outnumbered" and "exceeded in number"?

"Outnumbered" generally implies a disadvantage or vulnerability due to the smaller size, while "exceeded in number" simply states that one group is larger than the other without necessarily implying a negative consequence.

What can I say instead of "outnumbered"?

You can use alternatives like "were in the minority", "were dwarfed by", or "faced superior numbers" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "The smaller group was outnumbered by the larger group"?

Yes, that sentence is grammatically correct and clearly conveys the meaning. The word "outnumbered" implies the relationship, but specifying "the smaller group was "outnumbered" by the larger group" provides additional clarity.