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Synonyms

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

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • exteriorly adverb

Etymology

Origin of exterior

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

People Magazine reported that a source close to the family told the outlet that the arrest was “the result of a home inspection, and the door locks being on the exterior of the doors. “

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 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The truck bed has been replaced by a scaled-down version of the cargo box on delivery vans, and the exterior is equipped with flood lights controlled by switches in the passenger cabin.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

What he finds is a sweet, five-legged alien who appears to have a stone-like exterior.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.