Synonyms of foreign

foreign

adjective

ˈfȯr-ən 

1

as in international

being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own

more Americans should take an interest in foreign languages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• domestic
• local
• native
• indigenous
• endemic
• aboriginal

2

as in external

not being a vital part of or belonging to something

pediatricians often have to remove peas or other foreign bodies from inside the ears of curious toddlers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• external
• alien
• irrelevant
• accidental
• adventitious
• extrinsic
• extraneous
• unnecessary
• exterior
• supervenient
• outside
• inapplicable
• immaterial
• insignificant
• nonessential
• unessential

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inherent
• intrinsic
• innate
• internal
• congenital
• basic
• interior
• necessary
• inside
• inbred
• essential
• inborn
• deep-seated

3

as in multinational

relating to or involving two or more nations

foreign trade has always been vital to the region's economic health

Synonyms & Similar Words

• international
• multinational
• transnational
• transcontinental
• intercontinental

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• national
• domestic
• internal

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foreign different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of foreign are alien, extraneous, and extrinsic. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," 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

How do alien and foreign relate to one another?

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

a practice totally alien to her nature

When is extraneous a more appropriate choice than foreign?

The words extraneous and foreign are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When might extrinsic be a better fit than foreign?

In some situations, the words extrinsic and foreign are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foreign

In a statement Friday, the Metropolitan Police said the suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, were taken into custody on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. —ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

The one tiny potential upside of the populist movement was its apparent reluctance to plunge the nation into foreign debacles. —Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026

Iran may soon run out of drones, yet has other asymmetrical options – such as choking the Strait of Hormuz or plotting terror on foreign soil – that can irritate the US and disrupt peace. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026

Fifty-two percent of white Catholics feel the same, compared with just 23% of Latino Catholics, even though Pope Leo XIV has consistently decried American foreign and domestic policy. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026