extern

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​tern ek-ˈstərn How to pronounce extern (audio) ˈek-ˌstərn How to pronounce extern (audio)
archaic
: external

extern

2 of 2

noun

ex·​tern ˈek-ˌstərn How to pronounce extern (audio)
variants or less commonly externe
: a person connected with an institution but not living or boarding in it
specifically : a nonresident doctor or medical student at a hospital

Examples of extern in a Sentence

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Adjective
The case was reassigned to Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Martin soon after Judge Christopher Coury issued an order Sunday afternoon recusing himself from the case due to the involvement of an attorney who had worked as an extern in his office within the last five years. — Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle French or Latin; Middle French externe, from Latin externus

First Known Use

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extern was in 1530

Rhymes for extern

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extern
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Cite this Entry

“Extern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extern. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

extern

noun
ex·​tern
variants also externe
ˈek-ˌstərn How to pronounce extern (audio)
: a nonresident doctor or medical student at a hospital
externship
-ˌship How to pronounce extern (audio)
noun
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