external

American  

[ik-stur-nl] / ɪkˈstɜr nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the outside or outer part; outer.

   an external surface.

   Synonyms:

   exterior, outermost

   Antonyms:

   internal

2. Medicine/Medical. to be applied to the outside of a body, as a remedy.

   for external use only.

3. situated or being outside something; acting or coming from without.

   external influences.

   Antonyms:

   internal

4. pertaining to the outward or visible appearance or show.

   external acts of worship.

5. pertaining to or concerned with foreign countries.

   external affairs;

   external commerce.

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

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

   external world.

---

noun

1. the outside; outer surface; exterior.

2. something that is external.

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

external British  

/ ɪkˈstɜːnəl /

adjective

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

2. coming or acting from without

   external evidence from an independent source

3. of or involving foreign nations; foreign

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

5. anatomy situated on or near the outside of the body

   the external ear

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

7. (of a student) studying a university subject extramurally

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

---

noun

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

2. a student taking an extramural subject

Other Word Forms

• nonexternal
  adjective
• quasi-external
  adjective
• semiexternal
  adjective
• subexternal
  adjective
• externally
  adverb
• nonexternally
  adverb
• quasi-externally
  adverb
• semiexternally
  adverb
• subexternally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of external

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; equivalent to extern + -al ¹

Explanation

If, as a kid, you didn’t get what you wanted on your birthday, you were probably told that external, or outward, things can’t bring happiness. (It’s a noble idea, but it’s still up for debate, at least in some circles.) External contains the prefix ex- meaning “out of.” It shares this prefix with a number of other words including extraterrestrial (meaning “outside of Earth’s limits") and exclude (meaning “keep someone out”). The opposite of external is internal; again, as you’ve probably been told, it’s the internal things that really matter. What we’re wondering is: Does that include the leather interior in our dream convertible?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

external

In 2025 the UK government included Upstream England pilot projects in its national plan to end homelessness, external.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

By the time the BBC launched the cult cinema series Moviedrome in 1988, external, there was only one choice for opening night - the premiere of a previously unseen edit of The Wicker Man.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

It also said it was investing £3.5m in "innovative youth homelessness projects" including Housing First for Youth, external to help vulnerable young people "avoid or move on from homelessness".

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Doctors told her time and again that it could not be endometriosis - an incurable condition causing lesions and scarring on internal organs and around the body, external - because she was too young.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

The weaker factions will always join the external forces, and the others will not be able to stand up to them.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

Related Words

• extraneous
• foreign