external

adjective

ex·ter·nal | \ ek-ˈstər-nᵊl

Definition of external

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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

3a(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

external

noun

Definition of external (Entry 2 of 2)

: something that is external: such as

a : an outer part

b : an external feature or aspect —usually used in plural

Other Words from external Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about external

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Synonyms & Antonyms for external

Synonyms: Adjective

accidental, adventitious, alien, extraneous, extrinsic, foreign, supervenient

Antonyms: Adjective

inherent, innate, intrinsic

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

Among other moves prompted by the crash, the state has hired an auditing firm to conduct a new external audit of the RMV's state-to-state data sharing. — Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, "Nearly 900 drivers suspended in wake of deadly motorcycle crash in New Hampshire," 5 July 2019 Facebook has begun pilot tests of new content moderation tools and policies after an external audit raised numerous issues with the company’s current approach to tackling hate speech. — Louise Matsakis, WIRED, "Facebook’s New Content Moderation Tools Put Posts in Context," 3 July 2019 The team is now meeting with people from Facebook’s policy and product teams to gain a better understanding of Facebook’s internal and external policies as well as our products and services. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "A conservative audit of Facebook’s speech policies is running behind schedule," 3 July 2019 Prosecutors also noted that his body showed no signs of internal or external trauma. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Long Island Pizzeria Owner Who Died in Dominican Republic Suffered Respiratory & Heart Failure," 25 June 2019 That’s followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding, such as oozing from the gums or blood in the stool. — NBC News, "What is Ebola? What to know about symptoms, vaccine, outbreaks," 12 June 2019 The abiding question: internal or external candidate? — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "50 Parting Thoughts From the 2019 French Open: Rafa, Barty and So Much More," 9 June 2019 City Manager Erik Walsh said there are internal and external pressures on the budget. — Dylan Mcguinness, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio could add a homestead exemption, but there’s also talk of higher taxes," 21 June 2019 The company began as a sort of external hard drive for your home, storing your belongings off-site and delivering them on demand. — Simone Stolzoff, SFChronicle.com, "Who needs neighbors when there’s an app for everything?," 21 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Information out to the Foundation, alumni and other externals, too. — Dawn Rhodes, chicagotribune.com, "Southern Illinois University president ousted amid swirling controversy," 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, "What's an oblique? Explaining the pesky strain that's keeping baseball players down," 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, "Samsung Notebook 9 Pen review: Stylus convenience, devoid of style," 4 Apr. 2018 The kind of love that isn’t based on externals, but on a deep connection within. — Paige Davis, Health.com, "Breast Cancer Stripped Me Down Physically and Emotionally—and Taught Me More Than I Ever Imagined About Love," 2 Apr. 2018 After a minute or so, the mind goes outward once again and attends to the externals. — Martin Seligman, BostonGlobe.com, "When the brain is off to sleep — but hard at work," 22 Mar. 2018 MEMBERS OF THE EXTERNAL EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL PETER HARVEY, Esq. — NOLA.com, "NFL suspends Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott for 6 games," 11 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'external.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near external

Statistics for external

Last Updated

10 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for external

The first known use of external was in 1542

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More Definitions for external

external

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of external

: located, seen, or used on the outside or surface of something

: coming from outside

: existing or occurring outside your mind

See the full definition for external in the English Language Learners Dictionary

external

adjective

ex·ter·nal | \ ek-ˈstər-nᵊl

Kids Definition of external

: situated on or relating to the outside : outside

external

adjective

ex·ter·nal | \ ek-ˈstərn-ᵊl

Medical Definition of external

1 : capable of being perceived outwardly : bodily external signs of a disease

2a : 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

3a(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