outer circle
Edge of acquaintances
The outer circle is the peripheral ring of a group or organization, comprising members with less influence, access, or intimacy than those at the center.
Someone in the outer circle may attend meetings but lacks decision-making power: He's in the outer circle—invited to parties but never to strategy sessions.
The term implies hierarchy without formal rank.
- peripheryBoundary or outer region
- fringeOutermost edge or margin
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- rimCircular outer boundary
margin · outsiders · orbit · ring · halo · perimeter · on the outside · acquaintances · arm's length · distant · social · exclusive · belonging · threshold · liminal · satellite · secondary · surrounding
- esotericismoccult, gnosis, arcana, esoterica, hidden knowledge
- social tiesfriends, pals, buddies, mates, companions
- group discussionscommittee, panel, roundtable, focus group, brainstorm
- secret societiesFreemasons, Illuminati, secret society, secret societies, Masons
outer circleinner circle
Exclusive group of confidants
inner sanctum · in-group · core group · insiders · inner ring
outer, circle, outing, outward, outwardly, outermost, outmost, utter, circular