outlook

Outlook is a term used in multiple contexts to describe a person’s perspective or forecast about future conditions. As a noun, it can refer to an individual’s general attitude or to expectations for a situation, such as a favorable economic outlook, a favorable weather outlook, or a political outlook. The word is commonly used in business reporting and planning to indicate anticipated performance, trends, or conditions.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from out plus look, conveying a view toward what lies ahead. In English, outlook has been used since the early modern period to denote prospect or expectation, and today appears in fixed phrases such as economic outlook, weather outlook, and political outlook. The word can describe qualitative judgments or quantitative projections, depending on context.

Microsoft Outlook: Outlook is also the name of a personal information manager and email client developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft 365 suite and, historically, the Office family. Microsoft Outlook provides email, calendar, contacts, and task management, along with features such as folders, rules, search, and data file support through integration with Exchange Server and PST/OST formats. The product is available as a desktop application for Windows and macOS, as mobile apps for iOS and Android, and in a web-based form as Outlook.com, the consumer webmail service that was rebranded from Windows Live Hotmail and integrated with the Outlook brand.

See also: In non-software contexts, outlook remains a standard term for future prospects in weather, economy, politics, and related analyses.