foreign

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adjective for·eign \ ˈfȯr-ən , ˈfär- \

Definition of foreign

1 :situated outside a place or country; especially :situated outside one's own country

foreign cities

2 :born in, belonging to, or characteristic of some place or country other than the one under consideration

has a large foreign population

foreign languages

3 :of, relating to, or proceeding from some other person or material thing than the one under consideration

foreign aid

4 :alien in character :not connected or pertinent

this design is not foreign from some people's thoughts
—Jonathan Swift

5 :related to or dealing with other nations

foreign trade

6 a :occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and often introduced from outside

a foreign body lodged in the esophagus

b :not recognized by the immune system as part of the self

foreign proteins

7 :not being within the jurisdiction of a political unit (such as a state)

foreign corporations

—

foreignness

play \ˈfȯr-ən-nəs, ˈfär-\ noun

See foreign defined for English-language learners

See foreign defined for kids

Examples of foreign in a Sentence

They've visited several foreign countries.
We don't get many foreign visitors.
Have you studied any foreign languages?
She has a foreign accent.
the ministry of foreign affairs

Recent Examples of foreign from the Web

In the meantime, researchers are looking for alternatives to foreign sites.

— dennis normile, Science | AAAS, "Science suffers as China’s internet censors plug holes in Great Firewall," 30 Aug. 2017
The company is ramping up production of its F-35 fighter jet to fill an increasing number of orders from the U.S. military and foreign allies.

— andrea ahles, star-telegram, "Hundreds line up early and land jobs at Lockheed Martin job fair," 29 Aug. 2017
Sometimes those moves have come at the expense of foreign companies that have long operated in those places but that have been perceived by local populations as not sharing enough of the wealth.

— jon emont, New York Times, "Freeport to Give Indonesia a Majority Stake in Its Grasberg Mine," 29 Aug. 2017
U Penn: Andrea Mitchell makes an endowment Andrea Mitchell, a Penn alumna and NBC’s chief foreign affairs correspondent, has endowed Penn with the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy, The Daily Pennsylvanian reports.

— susannah hutcheson, USA TODAY College, "Campus news of the week: Trump admin resignation, offensive frat party and more," 26 Aug. 2017
Playing quarterback wasn't completely foreign to Morrissey.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Brendan Morrissey makes impact, lifts Lincoln-Way East past Crete-Monee," 26 Aug. 2017
Overall, domestic arrivals grew by 6.4 percent, but foreign arrivals saw a robust 14.9 percent growth this year so far.

— ryan craggs, CNT, "Paris May Break Tourism Record Despite Recent Terror Attacks," 22 Aug. 2017
First, ignore your race, religion or foreign nationality.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: Value your individuality," 16 Aug. 2017
That’s because, for several years now, ETG held off on development plans in hopes of building stronger local ties, establishing trust, and waiting for more stability in policies surrounding foreign investment.

— National Geographic, "This Pacific Island Is Caught in a Global Power Struggle (And It's Not Guam)," 15 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of foreign

Middle English forein, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin foranus on the outside, from Latin foris outside — more at forum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

foreign Synonyms

Synonyms

alien, nonnative

Antonyms

domestic, native

Related Words

imported, introduced, naturalized, transplanted; external, international, multiculti, multicultural, multilateral, multinational; foreign-born, nonindigenous; distant, far-off, overseas, remote; bizarre, exotic, outlandish, strange

Near Antonyms

endemic, local; aboriginal, indigenous

Synonym Discussion of foreign

extrinsic, extraneous, foreign, alien mean external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character. extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.

- sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value

extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.

- arguments extraneous to the issue

foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.

- techniques foreign to French cuisine

alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

- a practice totally alien to her nature

FOREIGN Defined for English Language Learners

foreign

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adjective

Definition of foreign for English Language Learners

: located outside a particular place or country and especially outside your own country
: coming from or belonging to a different place or country
: relating to or dealing with other nations

FOREIGN Defined for Kids

foreign

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adjective for·eign \ ˈfȯr-ən \

Definition of foreign for Students

1 :located outside of a place or country and especially outside of a person's own country

a foreign nation

2 :belonging to a place or country other than the one under consideration

Do you speak a foreign language?

3 :relating to or having to do with other nations

foreign trade

4 :not normally belonging or wanted where found

foreign material in food

Medical Dictionary

foreign

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adjective for·eign \ ˈfȯr-ən, ˈfär- \

medical Definition of foreign

1 :occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and often introduced from outside

a foreign body lodged in the esophagus

2 :not recognized by the immune system as part of the self

foreign proteins

Law Dictionary

foreign

adjective for·eign

legal Definition of foreign

:not being within the jurisdiction of a political unit (as a state); especially :being from or in a state other than the one in which a matter is being considered