foreigner

noun

for·​eign·​er ˈfȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce foreigner (audio)
ˈfär-
1
: a person belonging to or owing allegiance to a foreign country
2
chiefly dialectal : one not native to a place or community : stranger sense 1c

Examples of foreigner in a Sentence

I can tell by your accent you're a foreigner in these parts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the reasons Americans and foreigners invest in the U.S. is, of course, the size and dynamism of the U.S. economy. Robert Hormats, Time, 12 Aug. 2025 In cities like Tirana and coastal towns like Vlorë, there’s also a growing number of foreigners putting down roots. Cepee Tabibian, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2025 The debate gained national attention after multiple reports questioned the ethics and economic impact of companies, like Microsoft, making significant layoffs while simultaneously applying for thousands of temporary work visas for high-skilled foreigners. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025 As of 2023, more than 310,000 foreigners, around 13% of the nation’s 2.4 million farmworkers, were employed through this program. Scott Morgenstern, The Conversation, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for foreigner

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreigner was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Foreigner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreigner. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

foreigner

noun
for·​eign·​er ˈfȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce foreigner (audio)
ˈfär-
: a person who is from a foreign country

More from Merriam-Webster on foreigner

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