foreign

Pluralforeigns

1. 1
   from abroadadjective

   From or in another country, not your own.

   Many foreign students enroll at the university each fall.

   Our neighbor drives a foreign car that was made in Germany.

   UsageSay a foreign country. A person from there is a foreigner.

   Similaroverseas

   Oppositedomestic, native

   Note
2. 2
   internationaladjective

   Having to do with a nation that is not your own.

   The minister handles foreign affairs for the whole region.

   Foreign trade helped the country's economy grow last year.

   UsageSay foreign policy or foreign trade.

   Similarexternal, international, overseas

   Oppositedomestic, internal, home

3. 3
   strange to someoneadjective

   Strange or unfamiliar to someone, or not like their usual character or nature.

   Lying felt completely foreign to her honest nature.

   Such cruelty was foreign to the gentle old man.

   UsageSay something is foreign to someone: strange to them.

   Similaralien, strange, unfamiliar, uncharacteristic

   Oppositenatural, familiar, characteristic

   Note
4. 4
   not belonging insideadjective

   Not naturally part of the body or system it is in.

   Like a grain of sand getting into a machine where it does not belong.

   Doctors removed a foreign object from the child's throat.

   Tears help wash dust and other foreign matter out of your eyes.

   UsageCommon pairings: a foreign body, a foreign object, foreign matter.

   Similaralien, extraneous, external

   Oppositenative

   Note
5. 5
   other stateadjectiveCanadaUS

   Coming from a different state or area, even within the same country.

   The court enforced a foreign judgment from a neighboring state.

   A foreign corporation must register before doing business here.

   Similarout-of-state

   Oppositedomestic

   Note

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