externality

noun

ex·​ter·​nal·​i·​ty ˌek-ˌstər-ˈna-lə-tē How to pronounce externality (audio)
plural externalities
1
: the quality or state of being external or externalized
2
: something that is external
3
: a secondary or unintended consequence
pollution and other externalities of manufacturing

Examples of externality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The product developer should first acknowledge or address the negative externalities that their product creates—like a pack of cigarettes having a warning sign on every box about the health risks the product poses. Mark Cloutier, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Nordhaus builds on a lifetime of work incorporating the concept of externalities into national income accounts and into conceptions of economic growth. William D. Nordhaus, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021 Professor Mann's recent paper targeting plastic pollution with taxes analyzes the two main aspects to reducing the environmental problems posed by plastics: reducing emissions from plastic production and reducing the externalities from plastic waste. Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Saito highlights the Netherlands Fallacy, named for that country’s illusory attainment of both high living standards and low levels of pollution—a reality achieved by displacing externalities. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024 And this wasn't just altruism on WotC's part; Dancey said the license would encourage the kind of network externalities that would make the D&D rules system more popular, thus increasing sales of the game's core rulebook and allowing others to profit off of content based on that system. Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2023 According to Marshall, prices could help explain almost everything: supply, demand, the impact of economic policies, the allocation of resources, the effects of negative externalities such as waste products. Krithika Varagur, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024 With responsible leadership that balances the benefits of AI with its environmental externalities, AI can positively transform systems to accelerate global decarbonization. Eric Xing, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2023 To bring back nuclear power, to establish it as the technology with the least environmental impact when externalities are considered, the government’s role needs to be reimagined. Llewellyn King, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'externality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of externality was in 1673

Dictionary Entries Near externality

Cite this Entry

“Externality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/externality. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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