What does ousted mean?
Ousted describes someone who has been forcibly or decisively removed from a position of power, authority, or advantage. Its most familiar use is political: a president, prime minister, minister, or governing party may be ousted after an election, rebellion, no-confidence vote, or coup. The word carries a strong suggestion that the former holder has lost control and must leave, rather than simply choosing to step down. It can also refer to exclusion from an organization or defeat in a competition, though political usage dominates. As the past participle of oust, it often appears in the constructions “ousted from office” and “ousted from power.” The word is used in both British and American English and conveys a more dramatic and final removal than being merely removed, replaced, or displaced.
adjectiveRemoved from a position of power, authority, or competition, often as the result of a decisive defeat or dismissal. In modern usage, it most often refers to a political leader or party that has lost office.
- Removed from a position of power, office, or authority, especially following a defeat, coup, or dismissal.
- Excluded or driven out from a place, group, organization, or competition.
"The prime minister was ousted after losing the parliamentary vote."
"The opposition leader was ousted from the presidency in a bloodless coup."
"Several small clubs were ousted from the tournament after the group stage."
A leader can be ousted from office, but the word also captures the sudden reversal that follows a decisive political defeat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ousted come from?
Ousted comes from the verb oust, meaning to expel or exclude. The verb developed from Anglo-French ouster and Old French oster, “to remove,” ultimately related to Latin excludere, meaning “to exclude” or “shut out.” Its modern English history became especially prominent in political language, where it refers to the removal of a ruler or governing party from office.
Related word forms
How ousted is actually used
Chiefly used for political or organizational displacement and strongly conveys a decisive or sudden removal. It is standard in British and American English.
Easily confused with ousted
Oust is the verb meaning to remove someone from a position, while ousted is its past tense and past participle, describing the person who has been removed.