extrinsic

American  

[ik-strin-sik, -zik] / ɪkˈstrɪn sɪk, -zɪk /

Archaic, extrinsical

adjective

1. not essential or inherent; not a basic part or quality; extraneous.

   facts that are extrinsic to the matter under discussion.

   Antonyms:

   intrinsic

2. being outside a thing; outward or external; operating or coming from without.

   extrinsic influences.

3. Anatomy. (of certain muscles, nerves, etc.) originating outside the anatomical limits of a part.

   Antonyms:

   intrinsic

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extrinsic British  

/ ɛkˈstrɪnsɪk /

adjective

1. not contained or included within; extraneous

2. originating or acting from outside; external

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Other Word Forms

• extrinsically
  adverb
• nonextrinsic
  adjective
• nonextrinsical
  adjective
• nonextrinsically
  adverb
• unextrinsic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of extrinsic

First recorded in 1535–45; from Late Latin extrinsecus “outward,” adjective use of Latin extrinsecus (adverb) “on the outward side,” equivalent to extrim- ( ext(e)r “outer” ( see exterior) + -im adverb suffix) + secus “beside” (derivative of sequī “to follow”)

Explanation

Extrinsic means not connected to the essential nature of something. New cleats are extrinsic to making the soccer team. How you play is what gets you on the team, whether your cleats are old or new. If the ex in extrinsic makes you think of external or extra you’re on the right track––all these ex words are talking about something that is outside, or above and beyond. You often hear extrinsic paired with its opposite, intrinsic, which means part of something or someone's essential nature. If being sweet-tempered is intrinsic to your personality, you might not even know how to get mad.

Example Sentences

Extrinsic value the quality of being valued for the sake of something else.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Extrinsic innervations of the alimentary canal are provided by the autonomic nervous system, which includes both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Extrinsic tongue muscles insert into the tongue from outside origins, and the intrinsic tongue muscles insert into the tongue from origins within it.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Extrinsic nerve plexuses orchestrate long reflexes, which involve the central and autonomic nervous systems and work in response to stimuli from outside the digestive system.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Extrinsic goodness is found when an object employs an already constituted wholeness to further the wholeness of others.

From The Nature of Goodness by Palmer, George Herbert