ex·tern
ˈek-ˌstərn 
variants
or less commonly externe
: a person connected with an institution but not living or boarding in it
specifically
: a nonresident doctor or medical student at a hospital
Examples of extern in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Hansford, CNN, 23 Mar. 2023
The case was reassigned to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Martin soon after Judge Christopher Coury issued an order Sunday afternoon recusing himself from the case due to the involvement of an attorney who had worked as an extern in his office within the last five years.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2021
Nelson plans to spend three weeks in Jacksonville, Fla., working with Fanatics as part of the players’ association extern program.
—Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2017
Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Coury's recusal came after the court received filings Sunday at 4 p.m. mentioning new attorneys for the first time, including Chris Viskovic, who was the former extern.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2021
Law clerks and externs from numerous federal courts shared with us that they had felt demeaned, belittled, or humiliated during their clerkships or externships.
—Joan Biskupic, CNN, 13 June 2018
That extern said Kozinski also once talked with her about a female judge stripping.
—Matt Zapotosky, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Dec. 2017
The externs quickly learned that on the Hill, big moments are usually preceded by a million less glamorous ones.
—The Washington Post, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Shaq Al-Hijaz is a second-year law student at Howard University and extern at the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center.
—Justin Hansford, CNN, 23 Mar. 2023
The case was reassigned to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Martin soon after Judge Christopher Coury issued an order Sunday afternoon recusing himself from the case due to the involvement of an attorney who had worked as an extern in his office within the last five years.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2021
Nelson plans to spend three weeks in Jacksonville, Fla., working with Fanatics as part of the players’ association extern program.
—Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2017
Noun
Businesses identify specific projects or industry challenges for externs and then select highly-skilled teachers to engage in these areas.
—Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Coury's recusal came after the court received filings Sunday at 4 p.m. mentioning new attorneys for the first time, including Chris Viskovic, who was the former extern.
—Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2021
Law clerks and externs from numerous federal courts shared with us that they had felt demeaned, belittled, or humiliated during their clerkships or externships.
—Joan Biskupic, CNN, 13 June 2018
That extern said Kozinski also once talked with her about a female judge stripping.
—Matt Zapotosky, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Dec. 2017
The externs quickly learned that on the Hill, big moments are usually preceded by a million less glamorous ones.
—The Washington Post, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Extern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extern. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
extern
noun
ex·tern
variants
also externe
: a nonresident doctor or medical student at a hospital
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share