1
: situated outside a place or country
especially
: situated outside one's own country
foreign cities
2
: born in, belonging to, or characteristic of some place or country other than the one under consideration
has a large foreign population
foreign languages
3
: of, relating to, or proceeding from some other person or material thing than the one under consideration
foreign aid
4
: alien in character : not connected or pertinent
this design is not foreign from some people's thoughts—
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift5
: related to or dealing with other nations
foreign trade
6
a
: occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and often introduced from outside
a foreign body lodged in the esophagus
b
: not recognized by the immune system as part of the self
foreign proteins
7
: not being within the jurisdiction of a political unit (such as a state)
foreign corporations
Examples of foreign in a Sentence
They've visited several foreign countries.
We don't get many foreign visitors.
Have you studied any foreign languages?
She has a foreign accent.
the ministry of foreign affairs
Recent Examples on the Web
Associated Press also reported a meeting between the two, citing a US official briefed by a foreign colleague.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Trump also has proposed a 10% tariff on all foreign goods, and a significantly higher tariff of 60% on imports from China.
—Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
Other income, net was $0.3 million, compared to an expense of $0.2 million in the previous year, due to gains on foreign currency transactions and unrealized gains on warrants.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military or foreign ministry.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foreign 
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Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Trump also has proposed a 10% tariff on all foreign goods, and a significantly higher tariff of 60% on imports from China.
—Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
Other income, net was $0.3 million, compared to an expense of $0.2 million in the previous year, due to gains on foreign currency transactions and unrealized gains on warrants.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military or foreign ministry.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foreign
Dictionary Entries Near foreign
Cite this Entry
“Foreign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreign. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
foreign
adjective
for·eign
ˈfȯr-ən 
ˈfär-
1
: located outside a place or country and especially outside one's own country
foreign nations
2
: born in, belonging to, or characteristic of a place or country other than the one under consideration
foreign language
foreign customs
3
: related to or dealing with other nations
foreign affairs
foreign office
4
: not normally found in an area or part
a foreign body in the eye
Medical Definition
foreign
adjective
for·eign
ˈfȯr-ən, ˈfär-
1
: occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and often introduced from outside
a foreign body lodged in the esophagus
2
: not recognized by the immune system as part of the self
foreign proteins
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