external
/ɪkˈstɜː.nəl/(adjective)
AWL Sublist 5CEFR B2IELTS Band 7.0 - 9.0
Academic Definition
Belonging to or forming the outer surface or structure of something; coming or derived from the outside.
Key Academic Collocations
Click to copyWord Family & Derivatives
externalexternallyexternalizeexternalization
Lexical Alternatives (Synonyms)
outeroutsideextrinsicforeignexterior
Academic Sample Sentences in Context
"The line chart indicates that national economic volatility was driven primarily by external global commodity shocks."
"An independent external audit confirmed that the financial charity had complied with international philanthropic transparency standards."
"Corporations should continuously evaluate their operational strategy against shifts in the external regulatory environment."
IELTS Examiner Scoring Strategy (Lexical Resource)
Contrast 'external factors' with 'internal dynamics' when dissecting causes in Task 2 analytical essays.