Extrinsic reasons, forces, or factors exist outside the person or situation they affect.
[formal]
Nowadays there are fewer extrinsic pressures to get married.
Synonyms: external, outside, exterior, foreign More Synonyms of extrinsic
extrinsic in British English
(ɛkˈstrɪnsɪk)
adjective
1.
not contained or included within; extraneous
2.
originating or acting from outside; external
Derived forms
extrinsically (exˈtrinsically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin extrinsecus (adj) outward, from Latin (adv) from without, on the outward side, from exter outward + secus alongside, related to sequī to follow
not really belonging to the thing with which it is connected; not inherent
2.
being, coming, or acting from the outside; extraneous
SYNONYMY NOTE: extrinsic refers to that which, coming from outside a thing, is not inherent in its real nature[the extrinsic advantages of wealth]; extraneous, often synonymous with , extrinsic, may connote the possibility of integration of the external object into the thingto which it is added [extraneous grace notes]; foreign implies that the external object is organically so different that it cannot becomeassimilated [a foreign substance in the blood]; alien emphasizes the incompatibility of the external object with the subject in question[“nothing human is alien to me”]
OPPOSITE: intrinsic
see also intrinsic
Derived forms
extrinsically (exˈtrinsically)
adverb
Word origin
Fr extrinseque < L extrinsecus, from without, outer < exter, without + secus, following, otherwise < base of sequi, to follow: see sequent
Synonyms of 'extrinsic'
external, outside, exterior, foreign
More Synonyms of extrinsic
(adjective)
Definition
originating or acting from outside
the extrinsic conditions which affect relationships
Synonyms
external
the commissioner for external affairs
outside
Cracks are beginning to appear on the outside wall.
exterior
foreign
a foreign language
imported
superficial
It may well look different but the changes are only superficial.
extraneous
extraneous influences affecting his state of mind
Additional synonyms
in the sense of exterior
Definition
coming or acting from outside or abroad
Synonyms
external,
foreign,
outside,
alien,
exotic,
extraneous,
extrinsic
in the sense of extraneous
extraneous influences affecting his state of mind
Synonyms
external,
foreign,
strange,
alien,
exotic,
out of place,
extrinsic,
adventitious
in the sense of foreign
Definition
of, located in, or coming from another country, area, or people
a foreign language
Synonyms
alien,
overseas,
exotic,
unknown,
outside,
strange,
imported,
borrowed,
remote,
distant,
external,
unfamiliar,
far off,
outlandish,
beyond your ken
Nearby words of
extrinsic
extremist
extremity
extricate
extrinsic
extrovert
extrude
exuberance
Synonyms of 'extrinsic'
extrinsic
Explore 'extrinsic' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of outside
Definition
on or of the outside
Cracks are beginning to appear on the outside wall.
Synonyms
external,
outer,
exterior,
surface,
extreme,
outdoor,
outward,
superficial,
extraneous,
outermost,
extramural
in the sense of superficial
Definition
of, near, or forming the surface
It may well look different but the changes are only superficial.