exterior

American  

[ik-steer-ee-er] / ɪkˈstɪər i ər /

adjective

1. outer; being on the outer side.

   the exterior surface; exterior decorations.

   Synonyms:

   superficial, external, outside, outward

   Antonyms:

   interior

2. intended or suitable for outdoor use.

   exterior paint.

3. situated or being outside; pertaining to or connected with what is outside.

   the exterior territories of a country.

   Synonyms:

   extrinsic, foreign, extraneous, outlying

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noun

exteriors plural

1. the outer surface or part; outside.

   Synonyms:

   face

   Antonyms:

   interior

2. outward form or appearance.

   She has a placid exterior, but inside she is tormented.

   Synonyms:

   aspect, mien

3. Mathematics. the collection of points not contained in the closure of a given set.

exterior British  

/ ɪkˈstɪərɪə /

noun

1. a part, surface, or region that is on the outside

2. the observable outward behaviour or appearance of a person

3. a film or scene shot outside a studio

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adjective

1. of, situated on, or suitable for the outside

   exterior cleaning

2. coming or acting from without; external

   exterior complications

3. of or involving foreign nations

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• exteriorly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• exteriors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of exterior

1525–35; < Latin, comparative of exter or exterus on the outside, outward. See ex- ¹

Explanation

Something that's exterior is on the outside of some structure or object. An exterior door on a house opens to the outdoors, rather than connecting one room to another. Exterior house paint is made for painting the shingles or siding of your home, not the walls of your living room, and the exterior finish of a car is on the outside. You can also use exterior as a noun, to mean the outside of something: "The exterior of this salad bowl is a weird shade of yellow." Exterior is a Latin word, a comparative of exterus, "on the outside, outward, or foreign."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exterior exteriors

Their findings suggest that combining microwave frying with conventional frying could shorten cooking time, limit oil uptake, and still create the crisp exterior and satisfying texture associated with traditional fries.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

A planning report said the set provided a variety of exterior views and was used for more than 260 episodes each year.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Fly larvae were also seen on exterior plastic sheeting and the sidewalk on the north side of the damaged building.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

For the most part, the exterior of the Capitol as we know it was completed in 1868.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Yes, some of them had a pleasant exterior.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

While no photos of the ultraprivate property are available, a shot from Reynolds’ Instagram account with his mom gives a sense of the graphite exteriors of the charming property.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

Ford switched the F-series pickups’ exteriors to aluminum from steel a decade ago to make the trucks lighter and improve fuel economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

“A friend once remarked,” she writes, “that while most people had very strong, competent exteriors and were a bowl of jelly inside, I was just the opposite.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025

For exteriors, though, “White is the formula, until the market says it’s not.”

From Slate ● Mar. 6, 2025

Steel girders replaced wood-framing, exteriors were made of brick or granite, and designs favored straight, simple lines.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

• coating
• facade
• skin
• surface