FOREIGN


Meaning of FOREIGN in English

I. ˈfȯrə̇n, ˈfär- adjective

Etymology: Middle English forein, from Old French forain, forein, from Late Latin foranus situated on the outside, from Latin foris outside + -anus -an — more at forum

1. : situated outside a place or country: as

a. : situated outside one's own country

foreign nations

foreign cities

b. : situated outside a locality under consideration (as a private estate or a township)

2. : born in, belonging to, derived from, intended for, or characteristic of some place or country (as nation) other than the one under consideration : not native or domestic

our large foreign population

foreign art

outgoing foreign mail

incoming foreign mail

3. : of, relating to, or proceeding from some other person, material thing, or substance than the one under consideration

a man cannot save himself by foreign aid

nothing is foreign : parts relate to whole — Alexander Pope

allergenic effects of foreign proteins

the introduction of foreign genes in maize

foreign matter in milk

4. : alien in character : not connected or pertinent : lacking congruity : inappropriate

foreign to the plan

this design is not foreign from some people's thoughts — Jonathan Swift

5. : related to or dealing with other nations

foreign trade

a foreign policy

foreign dividends

6. : occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and commonly introduced from without

a sliver of wood under a fingernail or a coin in the esophagus are equally foreign bodies to the physician

7. obsolete : not belonging to or concerned with one's own household or family

8.

a. : not being within the sphere of operation of the laws of a country under consideration — opposed to domestic

b. : not being within the sphere of operation of a locality (as a state or county) under consideration

9.

a. of a ship : owned by a national of a foreign nation

b. of a registry of a ship : being under the flag of a nation other than that of which the owner is a national

Synonyms: see extrinsic

II. noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English forein, from forein, adjective

1. obsolete : foreigner : a ship of foreign origin or registry

2. obsolete : an outlying part (as of a town or monastery)

3. : a bond or other security originating in the jurisdiction of and usually issued by a foreign governing body — usually used in plural

foreigns drifted somewhat lower today

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.