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
The Director of National Intelligence had also released a statement highlighting the increasing aggressive efforts of Iran’s foreign influence campaigns, and warning about initiatives aimed at inciting American citizens.
—Farhad Souzanchi, TIME, 9 Sep. 2024
However, two key conditions must be met under that article: The offense must be criminal in both France and the foreign country, and a foreign court must have issued a conviction.
—Nana Ama Sarfo, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
Foreign Military Sales is a security assistance program authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, which allows the U.S. to sell defense equipment, conduct training and provide services to a foreign country when the president deems doing so will strengthen national security and promote world peace.
—River Valley Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 9 Sep. 2024
His critics cackled recently when his wife, Sue Mi Terry, was indicted for serving a foreign country as an unregistered agent.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foreign 
Farhad Souzanchi, TIME, 9 Sep. 2024
However, two key conditions must be met under that article: The offense must be criminal in both France and the foreign country, and a foreign court must have issued a conviction.
—Nana Ama Sarfo, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
Foreign Military Sales is a security assistance program authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, which allows the U.S. to sell defense equipment, conduct training and provide services to a foreign country when the president deems doing so will strengthen national security and promote world peace.
—River Valley Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 9 Sep. 2024
His critics cackled recently when his wife, Sue Mi Terry, was indicted for serving a foreign country as an unregistered agent.
—Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foreign
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foreign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near foreign
Cite this Entry
“Foreign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreign. Accessed 13 Sep. 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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