foreigner

American  

[fawr-uh-ner, for-] / ˈfɔr ə nər, ˈfɒr- /

noun

• foreigners
  plural

1. a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration; alien.

   Synonyms:

   outlander

2. a person from outside one's community.

3. a thing produced in or brought from a foreign country.

4. Nautical. a foreign vessel.

---

foreigner British  

/ ˈfɒrɪnə /

noun

1. a person from a foreign country; alien

2. an outsider or interloper

3. something from a foreign country, such as a ship or product

---

Usage

What is a foreigner? A foreigner is a person from a different country than the one being referred to, as in The country was welcoming to foreigners from neighboring countries. Foreigner is a noun form of the adjective foreign, which is used to describe someone or something that is from another place, particularly another country, as in foreign country and foreign language. Foreigner can be used more generally to mean a person from outside someone’s community or group. The word foreigner is similar to words like stranger and outsider, referring to a person who is from outside a community. However, foreigner implies that a person has different customs and culture or speaks a different language. Sometimes, foreigner is used negatively to harshly judge or discriminate against a person’s culture, customs, language, or country. It implies that the person or people being discussed are not acceptable in some way—that they don’t belong where they are. Although foreigner can be used in a neutral way, it can also be used in a way that’s very offensive. Words like immigrant, refugee, and tourist more specifically indicate a person’s status. Example: The secluded island nation was known for being distrustful of foreigners and rarely allowed visitors from other countries.

Synonym Usage

See stranger.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• foreigners
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of foreigner

First recorded in 1375–1425, foreigner is from the late Middle English word foreiner. See foreign, -er ¹

---

Explanation

A foreigner is someone from another country. A foreigner is not from these parts. Things that are foreign are different and unknown to people. Likewise, a foreigner is someone from a different country. An American visiting China is a foreigner. A German person visiting Canada is a foreigner. Foreigners are often tourists who check out the sights of other countries. If a foreigner decided to relocate to another country, they become an immigrant and perhaps eventually a citizen.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

foreigner foreigners

The average foreigner targeted by recruiters working for Russia is under 40, living in a poorer country and lured by the "promise of a job", she said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

It said the expedition comprises 10 people -- including five Nepalese, a Pakistani, an Omani, an American, a climber from China, and one other foreigner.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

“Why isn’t a foreigner, an Emirati, Canadian and Irish citizen, the face of this project if it’s for national security?” she said.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

“Kafka was a foreigner everywhere, especially in Prague,” Maïa Hruska writes in her absorbing book, “Kafkaesque,” which receives a fittingly attentive translation from the French by Sam Taylor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

She said “Africa” wistfully, like an admiring foreigner, loading the word with exotic excitement.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Growing tourism, meanwhile, pumped $50 billion into the local economy last year, according to official data, as curious Han Chinese and foreigners alike came to experience China’s Western frontier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

According to Amnesty International, the country has executed around 100 people this year, many of whom are foreigners convicted of drug offences.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

The moves, and the chatter among expatriates about possibly leaving Saudi Arabia, have stirred resentment among some Saudis who feel well-heeled foreigners have not stuck by their side.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

Japan tightened rules for permanent residency this month, with foreigners required to have higher annual incomes and greater fluency in Japanese.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

They will come on Mother’s Day, and the sixth graders will put on a play in honor of our moth- ers and the foreigners.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• alien
• immigrant
• outsider

---