scout

Scout is a term used as both a noun and a verb with several related senses. In its broadest form, a scout is someone who gathers information about a place, situation, or resource in order to support a decision. As a verb, to scout means to examine an area, to search for something or someone, or to seek out opportunities or candidates. The term is used across military, civilian, and commercial domains.

Historically, scouts performed reconnaissance ahead of or alongside a main force, identifying terrain features, obstacles, enemy positions, and routes for movement. Modern scouts may operate as individuals or part of a light patrol, using camouflage, stealth, and rapid reporting. In related fields such as law enforcement or emergency planning, similar roles exist as reconnaissance or situational assessment.

The word is also associated with the Scout Movement, a family of youth organizations devoted to outdoor skills, service, and character development. The modern movement traces to Robert Baden-Powell’s Boy Scouts in the United Kingdom in the early 20th century and has since become a global network including organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Guides or Girl Scouts, and coeducational associations. Programs emphasize camping, first aid, citizenship, leadership, and merit badges, with age-based sections and community service projects.

In contemporary usage, a scout may be a sports scout or entertainment scout who identifies and recommends talent for teams, studios, or networks. The noun also appears in phrases such as “scout out” or “scouting,” used to describe the act or process of searching for something or someone of interest.