foreign affairs

American

plural noun

activities of a nation in its relationships with other nations; international relations.

foreign affairs British

plural noun

matters abroad that involve the homeland, such as relations with another country
matters that do not involve the homeland

"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

Etymology

Origin of foreign affairs

First recorded in 1605–15

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.

See Examples For:

foreign affairs

Guest: Josh Keating, senior correspondent covering foreign affairs at Vox.

From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2026

The late Republican senator, who was a top adviser to Trump on foreign affairs, is being laid to rest in South Carolina tomorrow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Indonesia's foreign affairs ministry said "several aspects require further examination including the children's legal status, the identities of their biological parents, and the ongoing proceedings in Singapore".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

He served as a military lawyer and attained the rank of Air Force colonel, an experience that informed his interventionist stance in foreign affairs.

From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026

The secretary of state, in charge of foreign affairs, was considered the most influential cabinet member, more essential than the vice president.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

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