What does outback mean?
Outback names the remote interior of Australia, particularly the dry and lightly populated country beyond the major cities and established farming districts. It is both a noun and an attributive adjective, as in “the Australian outback” and “an outback town.” The word often carries a strong sense of isolation, vast distances, arid landscapes, and a rugged way of life, though it can also refer broadly to inland regions that are not all dry or uninhabited. It is especially associated with Australian English and is usually preceded by “the” when referring to the country as a whole. Although similar to “bush” in some contexts, outback places greater emphasis on remoteness and distance from settled society. The term also appears in discussions of Aboriginal cultures, pastoral life, travel, and the history and mythology of Australia’s interior.
The remote and sparsely populated interior of Australia, especially the arid regions beyond the major cities and settled farming districts.
"Much of the outback receives very little rain during the summer."
Commonly used with the definite article, especially in the phrase “the outback.”
Relating to or characteristic of the remote interior of Australia.
"They visited a small outback community with a population of fewer than a hundred people."
Usually attributive, appearing before a noun such as “town,” “station,” “community,” or “life.”
The plural is uncommon but is used for different remote inland regions or areas of the Australian interior.
"The series explores the scattered outbacks of a vast and sparsely populated continent."
One of Australia’s most distinctive words began as two ordinary words: out back, meaning the country lying beyond the settled districts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outback come from?
Outback was formed in Australian English during the 19th century from the words “out” and “back,” originally referring to country beyond the settled districts. Early forms were often written as two words, “out back.” The expression developed within the distinctive vocabulary of colonial and later Australian English and has no exact equivalent for the Australian interior in most other languages.
Related word forms
How outback is actually used
Chiefly used in Australian English, with the definite article in the phrase “the outback.” The term can evoke remote, dry, and sparsely populated landscapes, although Australia’s inland area includes cities, farms, and varied environments. In some contexts, “the bush” is a broader or less specific alternative.
Easily confused with outback
In Australian English, bush can refer to rural country generally or to native vegetation, whereas outback more specifically denotes the remote interior beyond the major settled regions.