Oust

Oust is a transitive verb meaning to drive out of a position or place, especially to remove someone from authority or membership. It can also refer to expelling someone from a group. The related noun is ouster, and the present participle ousting. The term is used in politics, business, and sports to describe a forcible or formal removal, often after a process such as impeachment, recall, a vote of no confidence, resignation, or a coup. A person who is ousted is described as ousted; the act is called an ouster or ousting.

Etymology: Oust comes from Middle English ousten, from Old French ouster “to drive out”; the precise ultimate origins are obscure.

Usage: It is typically applied to leaders, officials, or members of an organization. It can connote abruptness or decisiveness, but may also appear in neutral reporting of a governance change. It is often contrasted with terms like depose (to remove from office in a formal or legal sense) or overthrow (to remove and replace a government or system), though overlaps exist.

Examples: A president can be ousted by a legislative vote; a CEO can be ousted by the board; a coach can be ousted after a poor season. The noun ouster is used to describe the event itself: “there was an ouster of the CEO.”