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

"In a world of more shocks, of exogenous forces, they have no control over, what they have control over is getting the economy in good shape," she told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

It doesn’t foretell exogenous shocks, but many successful traders watch such measures of so-called market internals along with fundamentals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 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

"On our own analysis, the 'extra' cases serve to underline rather than undermine this aspect of the phenomena that are said to be distinctive in those cases of administration of exogenous insulin," they concluded.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

Regulation of breeding schedules in birds always involves some exogenous, environmental timing or triggering mechanism.

From The Breeding Birds of Kansas by Johnston, Richard F.

Related Words

• external