foreign

American  

[fawr-in, for-] / ˈfɔr ɪn, ˈfɒr- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from another country or nation; not native.

   foreign cars.

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

3. external to one's own country or nation.

   a foreign country.

4. carried on abroad, or with other countries.

   foreign trade.

   Synonyms:

   international

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

6. located outside a specific district, province, etc.

7. Law.

   1. of or relating to law outside of local jurisdiction.

   2. of or relating to another jurisdiction, as of another nation or state.

8. belonging to or proceeding from other persons or things.

   a statement supported by foreign testimony.

9. not belonging to the place or body where found.

   foreign matter in a chemical mixture.

10. not related to or connected with the thing under consideration.

    foreign to our discussion.

11. alien in character; irrelevant or inappropriate; remote.

    Synonyms:

    outside, extraneous

12. strange or unfamiliar.

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foreign British  

/ ˈfɒrɪn /

adjective

1. of, involving, located in, or coming from another country, area, people, etc

   a foreign resident

2. dealing or concerned with another country, area, people, etc

   a foreign office

3. not pertinent or related

   a matter foreign to the discussion

4. not familiar; strange

5. in an abnormal place or position

   foreign matter

   foreign bodies

6. law outside the jurisdiction of a particular state; alien

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Other Word Forms

• foreignly adverb
• foreignness noun
• nonforeign adjective
• nonforeignness noun
• proforeign adjective
• quasi-foreign adjective
• unforeign adjective

Etymology

Origin of foreign

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English forein, from Old French forain, forein, from unattested Vulgar Latin forānus, derivative of Latin forās “outside”

Explanation

If it has to do with other countries or their people, it is foreign, like a French movie receiving a British award for Best Foreign Film. The adjective foreign is based on the Latin word foris, meaning “outside.” A foreign exchange student goes outside of his or her country to study. When you learn a foreign language, it is outside of the one you first learned. If you sleep late on the weekends, someone might say, "Getting up early on Saturdays is a foreign concept to you." This means it's outside of your experience and knowledge.

Example Sentences

The book’s protagonist is Frank Friedmaier, a 19-year-old resident of an unidentified country ruled by foreign occupiers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Merz met Magyar earlier this year in Munich, and the new Hungarian leader will make Berlin one of first foreign destinations.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Jakarta said the partnership was an "opportunity to reinforce national defense capacity," but insisted that "free and active foreign policy, national interests, and full respect for state sovereignty" would be maintained.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Sunak’s essay pairs hawkish foreign policy analysis with patriotic nostalgia for how the Royal Navy used to maintain Britain’s position as a “global hegemon.”

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Besides, we were in a foreign country, and we needed help finding a place to stay for the night.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• alien
• different
• external
• offshore
• overseas
• unfamiliar