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