Meaning & Definition of word "Foreign"

Foreign

/ˈfɔːr.ɪn/

noun:

  • 1. A person from another country.
    • Example: The city is home to many foreigners who have come to study and work.

adjective:

  • 1. Of, from, in, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own.
    • Example: She has a foreign accent that gives her away as a non-native speaker.
  • 2. Not native to or originally from the place in question.
    • Example: The foreign plants in the garden flourished more than the local species.
  • 3. Belonging to or derived from a different country or culture.
    • Example: He specializes in foreign policy and international relations.
  • 4. Strange or unfamiliar.
    • Example: To him, the customs seemed foreign and difficult to understand.

Etymology

Middle English 'forein', from Old French 'forain', from Latin 'foris' meaning 'outside'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

foreign affairs:

Matters related to international relations.

foreign exchange:

The swapping of one currency for another.

foreign policy:

A government's strategy in dealing with other nations.

Related Words

overseas:

Located beyond the sea, often refers to countries across oceans.

immigrant:

A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

Slang Meanings of foreign