outflanks

Outflanks is the third-person singular present tense of the verb outflank. It means to gain an advantageous position by moving around the flank of an opponent's line, thereby bypassing the main defenses and threatening the enemy's rear or communications. An effective outflanking maneuver aims to compel the opponent to redeploy or split forces, reducing the effectiveness of a frontal or central attack.

Etymology and usage: The term combines the prefix out- with flank, referring to the sides of a formation. It originates in military jargon and has since been adopted in broader strategic discourse, including sports, business, and politics, to describe surpassing an opponent by leveraging peripheral avenues rather than engaging directly at the center.

In military doctrine, outflanking involves maneuvering forces along the enemy’s exposed or less-defended sides to envelop from the side or rear. Precision, timing, and sustained logistical support are often critical, as is the ability to prevent the enemy from quickly reforming a cohesive defense. Outflanks may be achieved through rapid movement, deception, feints to draw attention elsewhere, or coordinated use of reserves and reconnaissance to exploit a weak point in the opponent’s position.

Non-military usage is common in metaphorical senses, where the idea is to outmaneuver a rival by securing advantages on the margins—such as peripheral resources, networks, or public perception—thereby pressuring the opponent without a direct frontal challenge.

See also: flanking, double envelopment, pincer movement, maneuver warfare.