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External vs Extrinsic - What's the difference?

external | extrinsic |

As adjectives the difference between external and extrinsic

is that external is outside of something; on the exterior while extrinsic is external, separable from the thing itself, inessential.

external

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Outside of something; on the exterior.
  • This building has some external pipework.
  • * Milton
  • Of all external things, / She [Fancy] forms imaginations, aery shapes.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Her virtues graced with external gifts.
  • Not intrinsic nor essential; accidental; accompanying; superficial.
  • * Trench
  • The external circumstances are greatly different.
  • Foreign; relating to or connected with foreign nations.
  • external''' trade or commerce; the '''external relations of a state or kingdom
  • (anatomy) Away from the mesial plane of the body; lateral.
  • Antonyms

    * internal

    extrinsic

    English

    (Intrinsic and extrinsic properties)

    Alternative forms

    * extrinsick (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • external, separable from the thing itself, inessential
  • not belonging to, outside of
  • Antonyms

    * intrinsic * inherent

    Derived terms

    * extrinsic reward