external

[ ik-stur-nl ]

/ ɪkˈstɜr nl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR external ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to the outside or outer part; outer: an external surface.

Medicine/Medical. to be applied to the outside of a body, as a remedy: for external use only.

situated or being outside something; acting or coming from without: external influences.

pertaining to the outward or visible appearance or show: external acts of worship.

pertaining to or concerned with foreign countries: external affairs; external commerce.

Zoology, Anatomy. on the side farthest from the body, the median line, or the center of a radially symmetrical form.

Metaphysics. of or relating to the world of things, considered as independent of the perceiving mind: external world.

noun

the outside; outer surface; exterior.

something that is external.

externals, external features, circumstances, etc.; outward appearance; superficialities.

Nearby words

exterminate, exterminator, exterminatory, extermine, extern, external, external acoustic pore, external affairs, external auditory canal, external auditory foramen, external auditory meatus

Origin of external

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at extern, -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR external

1 outermost, exterior.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR external ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ex·ter·nal·ly, adverbnon·ex·ter·nal, adjective, nounnon·ex·ter·nal·ly, adverbqua·si-ex·ter·nal, adjective

qua·si-ex·ter·nal·ly, adverbsem·i·ex·ter·nal, adjectivesem·i·ex·ter·nal·ly, adverbsub·ex·ter·nal, adjectivesub·ex·ter·nal·ly, adverb

Can be confused

extraneous external extrinsic internal intrinsic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for external

While preaching D.A.R.E. in schools, we made a drug out of external validation.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Navy and Marine Corps versions of the F-35 have differing configurations and rely on an external gun pod.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However useful they might be for external purposes, they will always be dangerous internally.
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children|Chris Allbritton|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He wants to know every external detail, even if the escape is ultimately to be shot on a sound stage.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After all, the Prince of necessity had to focus on defeating his external enemies.
Valerie Jarrett, Obama Consigliere—and Democracy Killer|James Poulos|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Contemptuous of "external good," it seeks its own counsel and obeys the mandates of its own spirit.
Heroes in Peace|John Haynes Holmes
The senses are the only channels to the external world which we possess, and love must come through these channels or not at all.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis
For, to speak plainly, whatever the external thing may be, the value which we set upon it places us in subjection to others.
A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus With the Encheiridion|Epictetus
It is commonly remarked, that the suppression of external signs of feeling, makes feeling more intense.
Illustrations of Universal Progress|Herbert Spencer
External corrosion is a far more frequent cause of explosion in stationary boilers; and it arises from many causes.
Records of Steam Boiler Explosions|Edward Bindon Marten

British Dictionary definitions for external

external

/ (ɪkˈstɜːnəl) /

adjective

of, situated on, or suitable for the outside; outer

coming or acting from withoutexternal evidence from an independent source

of or involving foreign nations; foreign

of, relating to, or designating a medicine that is applied to the outside of the body

anatomy situated on or near the outside of the bodythe external ear

education denoting assessment by examiners who are not employed at the candidate's place of study

Australian and NZ (of a student) studying a university subject extramurally

philosophy (of objects, etc) taken to exist independently of a perceiving mind

noun

(often plural) an external circumstance or aspect, esp one that is superficial or inessential

Australian and NZ a student taking an extramural subject

Derived Forms

externally, adverb

Word Origin for external

C15: from Latin externus outward, from exterus on the outside, from ex out of

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

external

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of external

SYNONYMS FOR external

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for external

British Dictionary definitions for external

external

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for external

Medicine definitions for external

external

adj.