foreign Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
    • foreign trade
    • a foreign office
  2. adjective relating to or originating in or characteristic of another place or part of the world
    strange.
    • foreign nations
    • a foreign accent
    • on business in a foreign city
  3. adjective satellite not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
    alien.
    • an economic theory alien to the spirit of capitalism
    • the mysticism so foreign to the French mind and temper
    • jealousy is foreign to her nature
  4. adjective satellite not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source
    extraneous.
    • water free of extraneous matter
    • foreign particles in milk

WordNet

For"eign adjective
Etymology
OE. forein, F. forain, LL. foraneus, fr. L. foras, foris, out of doors, abroad, without; akin to fores doors, and E. door. See Door, and cf. Foreclose, Forfeit, Forest, Forum.
Definitions
  1. Outside; extraneous; separated; alien; as, a foreign country; a foreign government. "Foreign worlds." Milton.
  2. Not native or belonging to a certain country; born in or belonging to another country, nation, sovereignty, or locality; as, a foreign language; foreign fruits. "Domestic and foreign writers." Atterbury.
    Hail, foreign wonder! Whom certain these rough shades did never breed. Milton.
  3. Remote; distant; strange; not belonging; not connected; not pertaining or pertient; not appropriate; not harmonious; not agreeable; not congenial; -- with to or from; as, foreign to the purpose; foreign to one's nature.
    This design is not foreign from some people's thoughts. Swift.
  4. Held at a distance; excluded; exiled. Obs.
    Kept him a foreign man still; which so grieved him, That he ran mad and died. Shak.
    Syn. -- Outlandish; alien; exotic; remote; distant; extraneous; extrinsic.

Webster 1913