One who has left home and become a monk or nun. Two kinds are named: (1) 身出家 one who physically leaves home, and (2) 心出家 one who does so in spirit and conduct. A further division of four is: (1 ) one who physically leaves home, but in spirit remains with wife and family; (2) one who physically remains at home but whose spirit goes forth; (3) one who leaves home, body and spirit; and (4) one who, body and mind, refuses to leave home.

A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms, William Edward Soothill and Lewis Hodous

顯揚三卷十三頁云：出家人者：謂持出家威儀相貌，棄捨俗境，受持禁戒；如法乞求，清淨自活。

朱芾煌《法相辭典》字庫