# external

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪkˈstɜː.nəl/ · frequency rank #2,893

## Definitions
1. Outside of something; on the exterior.
2. Outside of something; on the exterior.
3. Outside of something; on the exterior.
4. Capable of being perceived outwardly.
5. Capable of being perceived outwardly.
6. Provided by something or someone outside of the entity (object, group, company etc.) considered.
7. Relating to or connected with foreign nations or institutions.
8. Having existence independent of the mind.
9. For or concerning students registered with and taking the examinations of a university but not resident there.
10. Not contained in the main computer.
11. Using a disk or tape drive rather than the main memory.

## Etymology
From Late Middle English, from Medieval Latin externus (“outward, external”), from exter/exterus (“on the outside, outward”).

## Easily confused with
- **externally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/external-vs-externally)
- **eternal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/eternal-vs-external)

## Common misspellings (12)
`etxernal`, `exetrnal`, `extenral`, `exteranl`, `externall`, `externla`, `externnal`, `exterrnal`, `extrenal`, `extternal`, `exxternal`, `xeternal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/external