external

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​ter·​nal ek-ˈstər-nᵊl 

1

a

: capable of being perceived outwardly

external signs of a disease

b(1)

: having merely the outward appearance of something : superficial

(2)

: not intrinsic or essential

external circumstances

2

a

: of, relating to, or connected with the outside or an outer part

the building's external features

b

: applied or applicable to the outside

a lotion for external use

3

a(1)

: situated outside, apart, or beyond

specifically : situated near or toward the surface of the body

(2)

: arising or acting from outside

an external force

b

: of or relating to dealings or relationships with foreign countries

c

: having existence independent of the mind

external reality

externally

ek-ˈstər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

external

2 of 2

noun

: something that is external: such as

a

: an outer part

b

: an external feature or aspect

—usually used in plural

Synonyms

Adjective

• accidental
• adventitious
• alien
• extraneous
• extrinsic
• foreign
• supervenient

Examples of external in a Sentence

Adjective

the external features of the building

the external signs of the disease

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The only reason there’s a handful of options for Day 3 is because many of their guys at the end of the depth chart are external vets and the Cowboys could try to replace them with homegrown talents. —Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Prior to Joyce, Lisa Cummins, the minister of energy and business development in Barbados, spoke movingly about how her small island nation was being buffeted by external forces. —Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Noun

All of these externals can lead to the breakage of individual strands, weathering (and even eradicating) protective cuticles and any potential for lustrousness and leading instead to a frazzled and frizzy mane. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025

So, then the challenge of all of that is that there is the internals of the characters and the backstory, and the externals. —Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin externus external, from exter — more at exterior

First Known Use

Adjective

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1635, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing external

• external combustion engine
• external degree
• external respiration

Rhymes for external

• diurnal
• eternal
• fraternal
• infernal
• internal
• maternal
• nocturnal
• paternal
• pimpernel
• colonel
• journal
• kernel

Kids Definition

external

1 of 2 adjective

ex·​ter·​nal ek-ˈstərn-ᵊl 

1

: outwardly visible

external signs of relief

2

a

: of, relating to, or connected with the outside or an outer part

the building's external features

b

: applied or applicable to the outside

for external use only

3

: arising or acting from outside

external pressures

4

: of or relating to relationships with foreign countries

external affairs

externally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

external

2 of 2 noun

: something external

—usually used in plural

Medical Definition

external

adjective

ex·​ter·​nal ek-ˈstərn-ᵊl 

1

: capable of being perceived outwardly : bodily

external signs of a disease

2

a

: situated at, on, or near the outside

an external protective covering

an external muscle

b

: directed toward the outside : having an outside object

external perception

eyesight and the other external senses

c

: used by applying to the outside

an external lotion

3

a(1)

: situated near or toward the surface of the body

also : situated away from the mesial plane

the external condyle of the humerus

(2)

: arising or acting from outside : having an outside origin

external causes

external stimuli

b

: of, relating to, or consisting of something outside the mind : having existence independent of the mind

sensations aroused by external phenomena

external reality

externally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb