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foreign

Meaning in simple English

US /ˈfɔːrən/ · UK /ˈfɒrən/

foreign means: Coming from, belonging to, or located in a country other than your own.

adjective

ANOTHER COUNTRYA2

Coming from, belonging to, or located in a country other than your own.

  • She speaks two foreign languages.
  • We exchanged some foreign currency.
  • Have you visited any foreign countries?

Similar words: overseas

Opposites: domestic

Common phrases: foreign country, foreign language, foreign accent, foreign currency

OTHER NATIONSB1

Concerned with other countries and your country’s relationship with them.

  • Foreign policy was discussed today.
  • The foreign minister visited three countries.
  • They disagreed over foreign aid.

Similar words: external

Opposites: domestic

Common phrases: foreign policy, foreign affairs, foreign relations, foreign aid

UNFAMILIARC1

Unfamiliar to someone, or not normally belonging to a person, body, or system.

  • The idea was foreign to me.
  • Doctors removed a foreign object from his eye.
  • Such cruelty is foreign to her nature.

How to use it: foreign to someone/something (These customs were foreign to us.)

Similar words: alien, unfamiliar

Opposites: familiar

Common phrases: foreign to someone, foreign body, foreign object

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Phrases with foreign

foreign in other languages

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