foreigner

noun

for·​eign·​er ˈfȯr-ə-nər 

ˈfär-

1

: a person belonging to or owing allegiance to a foreign country

2

chiefly dialectal : one not native to a place or community : stranger sense 1c

Synonyms

• nonnative
• outlander
• outsider
• stranger

Examples of foreigner in a Sentence

I can tell by your accent you're a foreigner in these parts.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2012, he was named the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. —Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025

Since the election, the government has detained over 2,000 people, including around 10 Americans and other foreigners, accusing them of plotting to overthrow Maduro and further destabilize the oil-rich nation. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

And yet, for decades there has been a bipartisan consensus that the U.S. is falling behind other countries in technical education, and that bringing in highly skilled foreigners can help to close the gap. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Iran has routinely detained foreigners and dual citizens to trade them for money and people. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foreigner

• anti-foreigner

Kids Definition

foreigner

noun

for·​eign·​er ˈfȯr-ə-nər 

ˈfär-

: a person who is from a foreign country