foreign

[fawr-in, for-]

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.

foreign

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreign¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreign¹

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

Example Sentences

"Unlike the Chinese, Russians have spent decades enjoying cheap, fast internet and foreign platforms," he says.

From BBC

Two new occupiers of two of the big offices of state: a new home secretary and a new foreign secretary.

From BBC

She said the party would not spend money on planting trees in Uganda or "foreign offices" - which the Welsh government has a network of.

From BBC

Many of those killed were foreign nationals, including three British people whose identities have not yet been announced.

From BBC

Mahmood replaces Yvette Cooper, who is being moved from the Home Office to become foreign secretary, and David Lammy moves from foreign secretary to become justice secretary and deputy prime minister.

From BBC

Related Words

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