External Adjective ɪkˈstɜːnl ɪkˈstɜːrnl Walls Building Hard Drive

• the external walls of the building
• an external hard drive
• the lotion is for external use only (= only for the skin and must not be eaten).
• a combination of internal and external factors caused the company to close down.

external

1. connected with or located on the outside of something/somebody
• the external walls of the building
• an external hard drive
• The lotion is for external use only (= only for the skin and must not be eaten).
2. happening or coming from outside a place, an organization, your particular situation, etc.
• A combination of internal and external factors caused the company to close down.
• external pressures on the economy
• our perception of the external world
• Many external influences can affect your state of mind.
• The information has come from reliable sources external to the government.
3. coming from or arranged by somebody from outside a school, a university or an organization
• external examiners/assessors
• An external auditor will verify the accounts.
4. connected with foreign countries
• The government is committed to reducing the country's external debt.
• the Minister of State for External Affairs
• The country was promised military aid in the case of external threat.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from medieval Latin, from Latin exter ‘outer’.