external

The word “external” means coming from, or relating to, the outside of something. In plain terms, coming from outside — a person, cause, or part not belonging to the inside of something.

“External” is pronounced ihk-STUR-nuhl (/ɛkˈstɜɹ.nəl/ in IPA).

Here is “external” used in a sentence: “The company hired an external consultant to review its finances.”

The opposite of “external” — its antonyms — is internal.

“External” is an adjective.

The word “external” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin externus, "outward, external".

“External” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

External refers to the outside of something, while internal refers to the inside. An external wall faces the weather; an internal wall divides rooms. External factors come from outside an organisation, whereas internal ones arise within it. The pair are direct opposites, split simply by outside versus inside.

A building's external walls form its outer shell. A laptop might use an external hard drive plugged in from outside, and a company may hire external consultants who are not its own staff. Each example points to something located or originating beyond the thing itself.

The opposite is internal, meaning inside or within. Where external describes the outer surface, source, or influence, internal describes the inner one. Related opposites include inner, inside, and interior. The right choice depends on whether something belongs to the outside or the inside of a thing.

No. External can be physical, like an external wall, or abstract, like external pressures, external funding, or external examiners. In those cases it means coming from beyond a particular group, system, or body rather than from a literal outer surface. The core idea of "outside" stays the same.