External is used to indicate that something is on the outside of a surface or body, or that it exists, happens, or comes from outside.
...a much reduced heat loss through external walls.
...internal and external allergic reactions.
externallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
Vitamins can be applied externally to the skin.
...externally imposed conditions.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
External means involving or intended for foreign countries.
...the commissioner for external affairs.
...Jamaica's external debt.
...the republic's external borders.
Synonyms: foreign, international, alien, exotic More Synonyms of external
externallyadverb [usually ADVERB after verb]
...protecting the value of the mark both internally and externally.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
External means happening or existing in the world in general and affecting you in some way.
...a reaction to external events.
Such events occur only when the external conditions are favorable.
4.
See external examiner
5.
See for external use
More Synonyms of external
external in British English
(ɪkˈstɜːnəl)
adjective
1.
of, situated on, or suitable for the outside; outer
2.
coming or acting from without
external evidence from an independent source
3.
of or involving foreign nations; foreign
4.
of, relating to, or designating a medicine that is applied to the outside of the body
5. anatomy
situated on or near the outside of the body
the external ear
6. education
denoting assessment by examiners who are not employed at the candidate's place of study
7. Australian and New Zealand
(of a student) studying a university subject extramurally
8. philosophy
(of objects, etc) taken to exist independently of a perceiving mind
noun
9. (often plural)
an external circumstance or aspect, esp one that is superficial or inessential
10. Australian and New Zealand
a student taking an extramural subject
Derived forms
externally (exˈternally)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin externus outward, from exterus on the outside, from ex out of
external in American English
(ɛkˈstɜrnəl; ɪkˈstɜrnəl)
adjective
1.
on or having to do with the outside; outer; exterior
2.
on, or for use on, the outside of the body
a machine for external use only
3.
a.
outwardly visible
b.
existing apart from the mind; material
external reality
4.
originating outside; acting or coming from without
an external force
5.
a.
for outward appearance or show; superficial
external politeness
b.
not basic or essential
external factors
6.
having to do with foreign countries and international affairs
noun
7.
an outside or outward surface or part
8. [pl.]
outward appearance or behavior; superficialities
Derived forms
externally (exˈternally)
adverb
Word origin
ME < L externus, outward, external < exter, exterus, on the outside, compar. form < ex, out of (see ex-1) + -al
Examples of 'external' in a sentence
external
He will be paid as a full external member of the committee.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Continued risk assessment complete with internal and external audits are essential best practices to complete any compliance programme.
Computing (2010)
Ivy grows on these boundaries, one of which is the external wall of a neighbouring house.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
One is via external controls.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
If you want to increase the performance of your walls, adding external insulation is the best option, and will make your home noticeably warmer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What does it matter if external circumstances are hard?
Christianity Today (2000)
We are looking at ways to save heat by lining some external walls.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We put the external stuff to one side.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This can cause internal and external damp.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This stands us apart from other clubs that have substantial external debt with significant annual interest payments.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The inherent contradiction can lead to a rupture given changing external circumstances.
Lee Harvey Critical Social Research (1990)
The external walls of many houses consist of two layers with a gap between them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This applies to both external and internal systems.
Geoffrey A. Moore INSIDE THE TORNADO: MARKETING STRATEGIES FROM SILICON VALLEY'S CUTTING EDGE (2001)
They have reduced their external debts and boosted their foreign currency reserves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Originally these were external walls and a great hall rose up through both storeys.
Christina Hardyment Malory: The Life and Times of King Arthur's Chronicler (2005)
And if they are on the external wall they keep sunlight off the fabric of the building.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
An independent external reviewer for complaints.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Libor should in future be based on real transactions, subject to independent external audit.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The external debt was restructured, and most creditors settled.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The ministry of external affairs said that the British government was keen to help it pursue other options.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
External noise is one curse of public performance whose effects the building's designers have attempted to diminish.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
Doctors have given him internal stitches instead of external ones, which should leave him without a scar.
The Sun (2012)
I feel through something external my role has been changed and offered to other applicants.
The Sun (2011)
The process of recommendation of awards is undertaken by boards of examiners, on which sit independent external examiners.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I would like to reassure you that we... have engaged the services of an external independent pest control specialist.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
external
British English: external /ɪkˈstɜːnl/ ADJECTIVE
External means happening, coming from, or existing outside a place, person, or area of activity.
...external influences.
American English: external
Arabic: خَارِجيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: externo
Chinese: 外部的
Croatian: vanjski
Czech: externí
Danish: ydre
Dutch: extern
European Spanish: externo
Finnish: ulkoinen
French: externe
German: extern
Greek: εξωτερικός
Italian: esterno
Japanese: 外部の
Korean: 외부의
Norwegian: ytre
Polish: zewnętrzny
European Portuguese: externo
Romanian: extern
Russian: внешний
Latin American Spanish: externo
Swedish: extern
Thai: ที่ใช้ภายนอก
Turkish: dış harici
Ukrainian: зовнішній
Vietnamese: bên ngoài
All related terms of 'external'
external ear
the part of the ear consisting of the auricle and the auditory canal
external wall
A wall is one of the vertical sides of a building or room.
external degree
a degree gained by a student who studies extramurally
external galaxy
any galaxy beyond our own galaxy
external spline
any one of a series of narrow keys formed longitudinally around the circumference of a shaft that fit into corresponding grooves ( internal splines ) in a mating part: used to prevent movement between two parts, esp in transmitting torque
external trade
foreign trade
external adviser
An adviser is an expert whose job is to give advice to another person or to a group of people.
External Affairs
(formerly) the Canadian federal Foreign Affairs department
external auditor
an independent accountant who inspects the books of a company or other organization
external candidate
A candidate is someone who is being considered for a position, for example someone who is running in an election or applying for a job .
external examiner
External experts , for example external examiners , come into an organization from outside in order to do a particular job fairly and impartially, or to check that a particular job was done properly.
external influence
To have an influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens .
external pressure
If there is pressure on a person, someone is trying to persuade or force them to do something.
external relation
a relation that does not hold between its relata , as 4 is greater than 2
external storage
Computing See secondary storage
external student
a student studying a university subject extramurally
external appointment
The appointment of a person to a particular job is the choice of that person to do it.
external consultant
A consultant is a person who gives expert advice to a person or organization on a particular subject.
external respiration
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide across external or respiratory surfaces, as gills or lungs , in multicellular organisms
for external use
If medicine is for external use , it is intended to be used only on the outside of your body, and not to be eaten or drunk.
Common External Tariff
the common tariff of charges imposed by the members of a customs union on imports from non-members
the external environment
Someone's environment is all the circumstances , people, things, and events around them that influence their life.
external-combustion engine
a heat engine in which the working fluid is heated in an external boiler or heat exchanger and is thus isolated from the process of fuel combustion
Department of External Affairs
→ the Department of External Affairs
the Department of External Affairs
the UK government department dealing with foreign affairs
iliac artery
either of two large arteries that conduct blood to the pelvis and the legs
Chinese translation of 'external'
external
(ɛksˈtəːnl)
adj
[wall, surface]外部的 (wàibù de)
(esp Brit)[examiner, auditor]外界的 (wàijiè de)
for external use only (Med) 只供外用 (zhǐ gōng wàiyòng)
external affairs (Pol) 外交事务(務) (wàijiāo shìwù)
Derived Forms
externalsn pl外表 (wàibiǎo)
1 (adjective)
Definition
of, situated on, or suitable for the outside
the external surface of the wall
Synonyms
outer
Peel away the outer skin of the onion.
outside
surface
apparent
I was a bit depressed by our apparent lack of progress.
visible
outward
In spite of my outward calm, I was very shaken.
exterior
The exterior walls were made of pre-formed concrete.
superficial
It may well look different but the changes are only superficial.
outermost
Opposites
inside,
internal
,
interior
,
inner
,
inherent
,
intrinsic
,
immanent
2 (adjective)
Definition
of or involving foreign nations
the commissioner for external affairs
Synonyms
foreign
a foreign language
international
alien
They were afraid of the presence of alien troops in the region.
exotic
travelling around the globe to collect rare and exotic plant species
exterior
extraneous
extraneous influences affecting his state of mind
extrinsic
the extrinsic conditions which affect relationships
Opposites
home
,
domestic
,
interior
,
intrinsic
3 (adjective)
Definition
of or relating to someone taking a university course, but not attending a university
The papers are checked by external examiners.
Synonyms
outside
Cracks are beginning to appear on the outside wall.
visiting
independent
extramural
Opposites
inside,
interior
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alien
Definition
foreign
They were afraid of the presence of alien troops in the region.
Synonyms
foreign,
outside,
strange,
imported,
overseas,
unknown,
exotic,
unfamiliar,
not native,
not naturalized
in the sense of apparent
Definition
seeming as opposed to real
I was a bit depressed by our apparent lack of progress.
Synonyms
seeming,
supposed,
alleged,
outward,
exterior,
superficial,
ostensible,
specious
in the sense of exotic
Definition
originating in a foreign country
travelling around the globe to collect rare and exotic plant species