not contained or included within; extraneous originating or acting from outside; external
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ex•trin•sic
(ik strin′sik, -zik),USA pronunciation adj.
ex•trin′si•cal•ly, adv.
- not essential or inherent;
not a basic part or quality;
extraneous:facts that are extrinsic to the matter under discussion. - being outside a thing;
outward or external;
operating or coming from without:extrinsic influences. - Anatomy(of certain muscles, nerves, etc.) originating outside the anatomical limits of a part.
- Late Latin extrinsecus outward, adjective, adjectival use of Latin extrinsecus (adverb, adverbial) on the outward side, equivalent. to extrim- (ext(e)r outer (see exterior) + -im adverb, adverbial suffix) + secus beside (derivative of sequī to follow)
- 1535–45
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