external

[ik-stur-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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of external¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of external¹

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

Example Sentences

The artwork is on an external wall of the Queen's Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex.

From BBC

At the time, he was rewarded, external with a £10-a-week pay rise.

From BBC

The move went viral on social media, external as the entire bench ran on to the pitch in Northampton to repeated chants of "bomb squad" by supporters.

From BBC

An unnamed Jets player told ESPN, external that he respected the new leadership's swift decision on Rodgers because it was "like cutting off the head of the snake".

From BBC

But the Lewis family - who effectively own Tottenham - was intent on restructuring at boardroom level following an external audit of the club which started in mid-winter.

From BBC

Related Words

• extraneous 
• foreign