exterior

American  

[ik-steer-ee-er] / ɪkˈstɪər i ər /

adjective

1. outer; being on the outer side.

   the exterior surface; exterior decorations.

   Synonyms:

   superficial, external, outside, outward

   Antonyms:

   interior

2. intended or suitable for outdoor use.

   exterior paint.

3. situated or being outside; pertaining to or connected with what is outside.

   the exterior territories of a country.

   Synonyms:

   extrinsic, foreign, extraneous, outlying

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noun

1. the outer surface or part; outside.

   Synonyms:

   face

   Antonyms:

   interior

2. outward form or appearance.

   She has a placid exterior, but inside she is tormented.

   Synonyms:

   aspect, mien

3. Mathematics. the collection of points not contained in the closure of a given set.

exterior British  

/ ɪkˈstɪərɪə /

noun

1. a part, surface, or region that is on the outside

2. the observable outward behaviour or appearance of a person

3. a film or scene shot outside a studio

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adjective

1. of, situated on, or suitable for the outside

   exterior cleaning

2. coming or acting from without; external

   exterior complications

3. of or involving foreign nations

Other Word Forms

• exteriorly adverb

Etymology

Origin of exterior

1525–35; < Latin, comparative of exter or exterus on the outside, outward. See ex- ¹

Explanation

Something that's exterior is on the outside of some structure or object. An exterior door on a house opens to the outdoors, rather than connecting one room to another. Exterior house paint is made for painting the shingles or siding of your home, not the walls of your living room, and the exterior finish of a car is on the outside. You can also use exterior as a noun, to mean the outside of something: "The exterior of this salad bowl is a weird shade of yellow." Exterior is a Latin word, a comparative of exterus, "on the outside, outward, or foreign."

Example Sentences

After splashdown, a separate Armstrong Flight Research Center team will collect a fortified sensor affixed to the exterior of the capsule that is designed to study the heat shield up close.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Changes to the exterior over the years also included a number of fire safety upgrades.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

President of the synagogue, Damon Hoff, praised the quick work of the emergency services and said most of the damage was to the exterior of the building.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

The truck bed has been replaced by a scaled-down version of the cargo box on delivery vans, and the exterior is equipped with flood lights controlled by switches in the passenger cabin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

By all rights, the arena of exterior decoration belonged to William Pretyman, the fair’s official director of color.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• coating
• facade
• skin
• surface