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
: something that is external: such as
a
: an outer part
b
: an external feature or aspect
—usually used in plural
Synonyms
Examples of external in a Sentence
Adjective
the external features of the building
the external signs of the disease
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023
Britain has been seeking to take tougher action on external security threats and potential spies, and in July passed a national security law, aiming at overhauling its means of deterring espionage and foreign interference with new tools and criminal provisions.
—Reuters, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2023
Neuralink plans to evaluate the safety and functionality of its tool allowing people to manipulate external devices with their minds.
—Sarah McBride, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Neuralink is one of a handful of companies developing a brain-computer interface, or BCI, a system that collects brain signals, analyzes them, and translates them into commands to control an external device.
—WIRED, 19 Sep. 2023
According to the theory, citizens often rally around the flag and increase their support for their government in times of conflict with external powers.
—M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, their external critics and internal rivals were being silenced or sidelined.
—Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
This thinking about internal versus external, spoken versus withheld, real versus performed feels apt for Mona as an actor and a playwright, though of course applies to all characters.
—Hazlitt, 13 Sep. 2023
Umar Shakir / The Verge Apple started including FireWire on the Power Macintosh in early 1999, replacing the SCSI connections users relied on for years to transfer data at high speeds for external hard disk drives and multimedia hardware like scanners.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 12 Sep. 2023
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2023
And then inside formed the external of the costume.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2023
Information out to the Foundation, alumni and other externals, too.
—Dawn Rhodes, chicagotribune.com, 13 July 2018
The externals extend upward from the hipbone to the ribs and spine, and the internals rise forward from the hip to ribs.
—Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2018
While the Notebook 9 Pen carries the high-end internals that would justify a $1,399 price tag, its externals don't match up.
—Valentina Palladino, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2018
The kind of love that isn’t based on externals, but on a deep connection within.
—Paige Davis, Health.com, 2 Apr. 2018
After a minute or so, the mind goes outward once again and attends to the externals.
—Martin Seligman, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2018
MEMBERS OF THE EXTERNAL EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL PETER HARVEY, Esq.
—NOLA.com, 11 Aug. 2017
See More
Adjective
However, in December 2022, the day a scheduled spacewalk was planned, an external leak was detected from the Russian spacecraft, later determined to have been caused by a micrometeorite impact.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023
Britain has been seeking to take tougher action on external security threats and potential spies, and in July passed a national security law, aiming at overhauling its means of deterring espionage and foreign interference with new tools and criminal provisions.
—Reuters, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2023
Neuralink plans to evaluate the safety and functionality of its tool allowing people to manipulate external devices with their minds.
—Sarah McBride, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Neuralink is one of a handful of companies developing a brain-computer interface, or BCI, a system that collects brain signals, analyzes them, and translates them into commands to control an external device.
—WIRED, 19 Sep. 2023
According to the theory, citizens often rally around the flag and increase their support for their government in times of conflict with external powers.
—M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, their external critics and internal rivals were being silenced or sidelined.
—Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
This thinking about internal versus external, spoken versus withheld, real versus performed feels apt for Mona as an actor and a playwright, though of course applies to all characters.
—Hazlitt, 13 Sep. 2023
Umar Shakir / The Verge Apple started including FireWire on the Power Macintosh in early 1999, replacing the SCSI connections users relied on for years to transfer data at high speeds for external hard disk drives and multimedia hardware like scanners.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 12 Sep. 2023
Noun
Alex’s first mistake is seeing in Henry the externals — the privilege.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2023
And then inside formed the external of the costume.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2023
Information out to the Foundation, alumni and other externals, too.
—Dawn Rhodes, chicagotribune.com, 13 July 2018
The externals extend upward from the hipbone to the ribs and spine, and the internals rise forward from the hip to ribs.
—Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2018
While the Notebook 9 Pen carries the high-end internals that would justify a $1,399 price tag, its externals don't match up.
—Valentina Palladino, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2018
The kind of love that isn’t based on externals, but on a deep connection within.
—Paige Davis, Health.com, 2 Apr. 2018
After a minute or so, the mind goes outward once again and attends to the externals.
—Martin Seligman, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2018
MEMBERS OF THE EXTERNAL EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL PETER HARVEY, Esq.
—NOLA.com, 11 Aug. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'external.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing external
Dictionary Entries Near external
Cite this Entry
“External.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/external. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.
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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
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
More from Merriam-Webster on external
Nglish: Translation of external for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of external for Arabic Speakers
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