externally
/ɪkˈstɜː.nə.li/ IELTSAcademic
adverb
In a way that is on the outside of something, not inside it. It can also mean in public, as seen by other people.
- The wound is visible externally.
- Externally, the company looks very strong.
- He seemed calm externally.
Adinary Nuance
Externally is often used for a clear outside view, especially in formal, academic, or medical writing. It is not the same as simply saying 'outside' in everyday speech. Writers choose externally when they want a more precise or formal word than 'from the outside'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bên ngoài
- Spanish
- externamente
- Chinese
- 外部地
- Japanese
- 外部的に
- Korean
- 외부적으로
Etymology
Externally comes from external, which entered English from Latin externus, meaning 'outside'. The adverb form developed in English from the late Middle English period.
Common phrases
externally visibleexternally controlledexternally poweredexternally damaged
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is externally formal or informal?
- Externally is fairly formal. You often see it in academic, technical, or business writing.
- What is the difference between externally and outwardly?
- Externally means on the outside. Outwardly often means how something appears to other people.
- Can I use externally in everyday conversation?
- Yes, but it sounds more formal than outside. People often use outside in speech.
- Is externally used in medical English?
- Yes. Doctors and textbooks often use it to describe things on the outside of the body.