exogenous

American  

[ek-soj-uh-nuhs] / ɛkˈsɒdʒ ə nəs /

adjective

1. originating from outside; derived externally.

2. Botany.

   1. (of plants, as the dicotyledons) having stems that grow by the addition of an annual layer of wood to the outside beneath the bark.

   2. pertaining to plants having such stems.

   3. belonging to the exogens.

3. Pathology. (of a disease) externally caused rather than resulting from conditions within the organism.

4. Biochemistry. of or noting the metabolic assimilation of proteins or other metabolites, the elimination of nitrogenous catabolites being in direct proportion to the amount of metabolites taken in.

5. Geology. exogenetic.

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exogenous British  

/ ɛkˈsɒdʒɪnəs /

adjective

1. having an external origin

2. biology

   1. developing or originating outside an organism or part of an organism

   2. of or relating to external factors, such as light, that influence an organism

3. psychiatry (of a mental illness) caused by external factors

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exogenous Scientific  

/ ĕk-sŏj′ə-nəs /

1. Originating or produced from outside an organism, tissue, or cell.

2. Compare endogenous

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Other Word Forms

• exogenism noun
• exogenously adverb

Etymology

Origin of exogenous

First recorded in 1820–30; exo- + -gen + -ous

Example Sentences

“That’s now exogenous; it isn’t going to change for a while,” he says.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

For patients with severe cases that are difficult to control with exogenous insulin, doctors can perform islet cell transplants, which include beta cells.

From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026

He said while the company absorbed an exogenous shock linked to tariffs, which “disproportionately affecting ad spend from our top retail advertisers, this quarter also underscored where we need to move faster.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

“We don’t have necessarily the final say on whether there’s going to be oil destruction exogenous events all around the world,” said Clayton Seigle, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

Most of the trees with which we have to do are of the exogenous type.

From The Palm Tree Blessing by Shepard, W. E.

Related Words

• external