A small group of voters can have an outsized influence in a close election.
The project carried outsized risk for such a small budget.
Investors chased outsized returns in the new market.
He carried an outsized suitcase through the station.
Similar words
huge
disproportionate
excessive
large
substantial
exceptional
oversized
huge
bulky
colossal
Meanings
Unusually large in physical size
adjective
everyday
neutral
Larger than the usual or expected size, especially in a way that is noticeable or awkward.
Usage
Use outsized for clothing, furniture, signs, or other physical things that are much larger than normal.
Examples
She bought an outsized coat for the winter.
The outsized sofa filled the tiny apartment.
He carried an outsized suitcase through the station.
The gallery installed an outsized sculpture in the atrium.
Her outsized sunglasses hid half her face.
The carpenter built an outsized table for the banquet hall.
An outsized sign marked the entrance to the store.
Common mistakes
The word is often treated as a verb or used where outsize would sound more natural in British English.
Incorrect
Correct
He outsized the room with a huge sofa.
He filled the room with an outsized sofa.
She bought an outsized for winter.
She bought an outsized coat for winter.
The jacket was very outsizing.
The jacket was outsized.
Similar words
large
oversized
bulky
huge
massive
colossal
Unusually large in amount or influence
adjective
business
neutral
Greater than normal in degree, effect, value, or importance, often beyond what the situation seems to warrant.
Usage
Use outsized for profits, risks, influence, attention, or effects that are larger than expected.
Examples
The company posted outsized profits after the merger.
A small group of voters can have an outsized influence in a close election.
The film gave the young actor an outsized public profile.
Investors chased outsized returns in the new market.
The storm had an outsized effect on food prices.
Her speech received outsized attention online.
The project carried outsized risk for such a small budget.
Common mistakes
The word is often confused with oversized, which mainly points to physical size.
Incorrect
Correct
The campaign had oversized influence on the debate.
The campaign had outsized influence on the debate.
The firm earned outsized of profits.
The firm earned outsized profits.
Her role was outsized than expected.
Her role was larger than expected.
Similar words
exceptional
extraordinary
excessive
disproportionate
huge
substantial
Usage
Use outsized when something is noticeably larger than normal, whether the size is physical or figurative.
Common mistakes
Oversized influence is usually better as outsized influence, because oversized mainly suggests physical dimensions.
Etymology
Formed in English from out- and size. The adjective is recorded from the nineteenth century, with the related noun outsize used for an unusually large size.
FAQ
What does outsized mean?
Outsized means larger than normal, either in physical size or in degree, influence, effect, or importance.
Is outsized an adjective?
Yes. Outsized is mainly used as an adjective, as in outsized coat or outsized influence.
What is an outsized influence?
An outsized influence is an effect or power that is larger than expected for the person, group, or event involved.
Is outsized the same as oversized?
They overlap for physical size, but outsized is also common for abstract things such as risk, returns, or attention.
Can outsized describe profits?
Yes. Outsized profits are much larger than normal or larger than expected.
What is the opposite of outsized?
For physical size, opposites include small or compact. For degree or influence, modest is often a natural opposite.
How do you pronounce outsized?
Outsized is pronounced /ˈaʊtˌsaɪzd/.
Where does outsized come from?
Outsized was formed from out- and size, with the idea of going beyond normal size.
Can outsized be negative?
Yes. Outsized can be neutral, positive, or negative depending on context, as in outsized risk or outsized success.
What is a common phrase with outsized?
Outsized influence is a common phrase for influence that is stronger than expected.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Contribution
Jolly Curlew
Jul 8
freight ppl still say outsize cargo, not only clothing sizes. You see it around the Airbus Beluga and other weird huge loads, where oversized cargo may also be understood but isnt always the house wording.
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Contribution
Tawny Iguana
Jun 26
Outsized bonus has a side-eye to it. A large bonus is neutral, outsized sounds like somebody thinks the number is too much
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Minty Panda
Jun 19
US/UK split is real but not a rule you need to panic about. American articles mostly seem to like outsized for influence, returns, effects, all that newspaper stuff. British copy often keeps outsize, so "an outsize ego" isnt a typo to my eyes, just a bit more UK.