Foreign

/ˈfɔːr.ɪn/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A person from another country.
The city is home to many foreigners who have come to study and work.
adjective
Of, from, in, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own.
She has a foreign accent that gives her away as a non-native speaker.
Not native to or originally from the place in question.
The foreign plants in the garden flourished more than the local species.
Belonging to or derived from a different country or culture.
He specializes in foreign policy and international relations.
Strange or unfamiliar.
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

Slang Meanings