Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of, from, or characteristic of a country or nation other than one's own: Pertaining to something that originates in, is connected with, or is situated in another country.
   • Not belonging to or characteristic of a place, group, or context; external or alien: Describing something that is not naturally part of a system, environment, or subject matter.
   • Dealing with or involving other nations: Concerned with international relations, trade, or affairs.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She speaks three foreign languages fluently.
  • The company is expanding into foreign markets.
  • A foreign object was found in the machinery, causing it to stop.
  • The concept of failure is foreign to his optimistic nature.

Advanced Usage

• "Foreign to": Completely unfamiliar or not part of the nature of someone or something.
  • Such selfish behavior is foreign to her character.
• In a legal/political context: Pertaining to external sovereignty.
  • The minister handles all foreign policy decisions.

Variants and Related Words

• Foreigner (n): A person who is from a country other than one's own.
  • The city welcomes foreigners from all over the world.
• Foreignness (n): The quality of being foreign, strange, or unfamiliar.
  • The foreignness of the customs made adaptation difficult.

Synonyms

• External: Belonging to or forming the outer surface or structure.
• Alien: Belonging to a foreign country or nation; unfamiliar and disturbing.
• International: Existing, occurring, or carried on between nations.
• Extraneous: Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.

Related Phrases

• Foreign body: An object or piece of extraneous matter that has entered the body or a system by accident.
  • The surgeon removed the foreign body from the patient's eye.
• Foreign exchange: The system or process of converting one currency into another.
  • He works in the foreign exchange market.

Related Idioms

• Paddle one's own canoe: To be independent and self-sufficient. (Note: This idiom is not directly related to "foreign" but shares a thematic link of independence, sometimes contrasted with needing foreign aid or influence).
• A fish out of water: Someone who feels uncomfortable because they are in an unfamiliar situation. This relates to the feeling of being foreign.
  • At the formal gala, the casual farmer felt like a fish out of water.

Adjective

1. not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source
   • water free of extraneous matter
   • foreign particles in milk
2. not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
   • an economic theory alien to the spirit of capitalism
   • the mysticism so foreign to the French mind and temper
   • jealousy is foreign to her nature
3. relating to or originating in or characteristic of another place or part of the world
   • foreign nations
   • a foreign accent
   • on business in a foreign city
4. of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
   • foreign trade
   • a foreign office