foreigner

noun

for·​eign·​er ˈfȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce foreigner (audio)
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

Examples of foreigner in a Sentence

I can tell by your accent you're a foreigner in these parts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Though the numbers are tiny in comparison to the waves of Russians who regularly emigrate, there have always been a few foreigners who come to stay, often marry, and raise families in Russia. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2025 But two people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal deliberations, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio relied on a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that gives him sweeping power to expel foreigners. Minho Kim, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2025 In 2014, Sawiris managed to obtain a unique exemption from the country’s stringent Lex Koller law, which prohibits foreigners from acquiring property in the country. Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 People gather at their local bookshop, including residents, foreigners, journalists and diplomats, to learn more about this region and beyond. Britt Clennett, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for foreigner

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreigner was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Foreigner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreigner. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

foreigner

noun
for·​eign·​er ˈfȯr-ə-nər How to pronounce foreigner (audio)
ˈfär-
: a person who is from a foreign country

More from Merriam-Webster on foreigner

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