extrinsic

[ ik-strin-sik, -zik ]

adjective

1. not essential or inherent; not a basic part or quality; extraneous:

   facts that are extrinsic to the matter under discussion.

   Antonyms: intrinsic

2. being outside a thing; outward or external; operating or coming from without:

   extrinsic influences.

3. Anatomy. (of certain muscles, nerves, etc.) originating outside the anatomical limits of a part.

   Antonyms: intrinsic

extrinsic

/ ɛkˈstrɪnsɪk /

adjective

1. not contained or included within; extraneous
2. originating or acting from outside; external

Derived Forms

• exˈtrinsically, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·trinsi·cal·ly adverb
• nonex·trinsic adjective
• nonex·trinsi·cal adjective
• nonex·trinsi·cal·ly adverb
• unex·trinsic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extrinsic¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Late Latin extrinsecus “outward,” adjective use of Latin extrinsecus (adverb) “on the outward side,” equivalent to extrim- ( ext(e)r “outer” ( exterior ) + -im adverb suffix) + secus “beside” (derivative of sequī “to follow”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of extrinsic¹

C16: from Late Latin extrinsecus (adj) outward, from Latin (adv) from without, on the outward side, from exter outward + secus alongside, related to sequī to follow

Example Sentences

He called them “extrinsic statements—many of which were made before the President took the oath of office.”

From Salon

"For many steps in this developmental process, the system has no extrinsic signal that directs it what to do. There is an intrinsic property of the system that allows it to establish patterns and structures," says Brückner.

From Science Daily

The second is that these yeast specialists and generalists evolve to fit either profile due to the combined effects of different intrinsic traits of their respective genomes and different extrinsic influences based on the varying environments in which yeast organisms exist.

From Science Daily

Prosecutors argue that Shafer is using “incorrect, extrinsic facts and legal conclusions … to somehow suggest that he was or may have been a lawful presidential elector at the time of the charged conduct.”

From Seattle Times

I couldn’t relate to whatever it was that pulled people back into the gloomy casinos over and over again, or what compelled them to place bets on games of little extrinsic consequence.

From Slate