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Definition of foreigner

foreigner

/ˈfɔːr.ə.nɚ/
for · eign · er
Plural:foreigners
•
Adjective:foreign
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foreigner Lexical Profile

foreigner Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person born in or coming from a country other than one's own.

Example

"As a foreigner living in Tokyo, he spent his evenings studying Japanese to communicate better with his neighbors."

2

A person who does not belong to a particular place, community, or group; an outsider.

Example

"Because the remote mountain village rarely received guests, any visitor from the city was initially treated as a foreigner."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for foreigner
Antonyms
View all antonyms for foreigner

Word Nuance & Usage

In contemporary usage, calling someone a "foreigner" directly can sometimes sound exclusionary or unwelcoming; neutral alternatives such as "international visitor," "non-citizen," or "expatriate" are often preferred in formal or polite contexts.

• Rhymes for foreigner

• Nearby Words

forehand
forehead
foreign
foreigner
foreignness
foreknowledge
forelady

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in late Middle English from "foreign" plus the agentive suffix "-er"; "foreign" comes via Old French "forain" from Vulgar Latin "foranus" (on the outside), ultimately derived from Latin "foris" (out of doors).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Foreigner. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/foreigner
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