foreign

[fawr-in, for-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR foreign ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or derived from another country or nation; not native: foreign cars.

of or relating to contact or dealings with other countries; connected with foreign affairs.

external to one's own country or nation: a foreign country.

carried on abroad, or with other countries: foreign trade.

belonging to or coming from another district, province, etc.

located outside a specific district, province, etc.

Law.

of or relating to law outside of local jurisdiction.
of or relating to another jurisdiction, as of another nation or state.

belonging to or proceeding from other persons or things: a statement supported by foreign testimony.

not belonging to the place or body where found: foreign matter in a chemical mixture.

not related to or connected with the thing under consideration: foreign to our discussion.

alien in character; irrelevant or inappropriate; remote.

strange or unfamiliar.

Nearby words

Origin of foreign

1200–50; Middle English forein < Old French forain, forein < Vulgar Latin *forānus, derivative of Latin forās outside

SYNONYMS FOR foreign

1, 3. alien. 4. international. 11. extraneous, outside.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR foreign ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

for·eign·ly, adverbfor·eign·ness, nounnon·for·eign, adjectivenon·for·eign·ness, noun

pro·for·eign, adjectivequa·si-for·eign, adjectiveun·for·eign, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for foreign

Cambodia, with its seemingly free press, is also a haven for foreign journalists.
Cambodia’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Democracy|David Shaftel|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What they believe impacts economic policy, foreign policy, education policy, environmental policy, you name it.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Huckabee is also not burdened by, or beholden to, foreign investors.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What if there were a legal dispute between the foreign investor and his or her Egyptian partners or collaborators?
Amal Clooney vs. Egypt’s Courts|Christopher Dickey|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The Italian foreign ministry has declined to comment on the video.
Jihadis Release New Year’s Eve Video of Italian Female Hostages|Jamie Dettmer, Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At that age and in its then condition a strong ruler--native if possible, if not, foreign--was by far the best hope for Ireland.
The Story Of Ireland|Emily Lawless
The national type of woman appears here in good preservation, and not too much hampered by foreign airs.
Spanish Vistas|George Parsons Lathrop
Eventually he was thrust from his high position by an intrigue set on foot by German courtiers and backed by foreign influence.
Memoirs of Leonora Christina|Leonora Christina Ulfeldt
Other blind species are found in foreign waters, while others with small eyes are found in American waters.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1900|Various
Upon this another of the foreign merchants cries, By gar, if they will not have it at all, we must throw it overboard!
A History of Caricature and Grotesque|Thomas Wright

British Dictionary definitions for foreign

foreign

adjective

of, involving, located in, or coming from another country, area, people, etca foreign resident

dealing or concerned with another country, area, people, etca foreign office

not pertinent or relateda matter foreign to the discussion

not familiar; strange

in an abnormal place or positionforeign matter; foreign bodies

law outside the jurisdiction of a particular state; alien

Derived Formsforeignly, adverbforeignness, noun

Word Origin for foreign

C13: from Old French forain, from Vulgar Latin forānus (unattested) situated on the outside, from Latin foris outside

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

Word Origin and History for foreign

foreign

adj.

mid-13c., ferren, foreyne "out of doors," from Old French forain "strange, foreign; outer, external, outdoor; remote, out-of-the-way" (12c.), from Medieval Latin foranus "on the outside, exterior," from Latin foris "outside," literally "out of doors," related to for1s "door," from PIE *dhwor-ans-, from root *dhwer- "door, doorway" (see door). Spelling altered 17c. perhaps by influence of reign, sovereign. Replaced native fremd. Sense of "not in one's own land" is first attested late 14c.