foreigner
/'fɔrinə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A person from a foreign country: An individual who is a citizen or national of a country other than the one they are currently in or being discussed in. 2. An outsider: Someone who is excluded from or is not a member of a particular group, community, or culture.
Usage
The word "foreigner" is a neutral noun used to describe a person's origin or status relative to a country or group. It is important to note that while factual, the term can sometimes carry a connotation of otherness or exclusion. In many modern contexts, more specific or neutral terms like "international visitor," "expatriate," or "non-citizen" may be preferred.
Examples
- The new policy simplified the visa process for foreigners working in the tech industry.
- As the only foreigner in the village, he sometimes felt like an outsider.
- The company hired several foreigners to bring diverse expertise to the team.
Advanced Usage
- "To feel like a foreigner": To feel out of place or like an outsider, even in one's own country or familiar setting.
- After living abroad for a decade, she felt like a foreigner in her hometown.
- In legal and official documents, "foreign national" or "alien" are often used as formal equivalents, though "alien" can sound very impersonal.
Variants and Related Words
- Foreign (adj): Of, from, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own.
- She speaks three foreign languages.
- Foreignness (n): The quality of being foreign or unfamiliar.
- Expatriate (Expat) (n): A person who lives outside their native country, often temporarily or for work. (This term often implies a choice and is commonly used in a community context).
Synonyms
- Non-native: A person not born in or originating from a particular place.
- Outsider: A person who does not belong to a particular group.
- Alien: (Formal/Legal) A foreign-born resident who has not been naturalized.
- Stranger: An unknown person or one who is not familiar with a place.
Antonyms
- Native: A person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth.
- Citizen: A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth.
- Local: A person living in or familiar with a particular area.
- Insider: A person within a group or organization who has special knowledge or access.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "A foreigner in one's own land": Someone who feels alienated or out of place in their own country or community.
- After the cultural revolution, many elders felt like foreigners in their own land.
Noun
- someone who is excluded from or is not a member of a group
- a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country