externality

[ ek-ster-nal-i-tee ]
/ ˌɛk stərˈnæl ɪ ti /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR externality ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ex·ter·nal·i·ties.

the state or quality of being external.
something external; an outward feature.
excessive attention to externals.
an external effect, often unforeseen or unintended, accompanying a process or activity: to eliminate externalities such as air pollution through government regulation.

Origin of externality

First recorded in 1665–75; external + -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM externality

non·ex·ter·nal·i·ty, noun

Words nearby externality

external urethrotomy, external version, external-combustion, external-combustion engine, externalism, externality, externalization, externalize, externalizer, externship, exteroceptive

Words related to externality

area, top, level, face, exterior, skin, expanse, side, facade, peel, covering, stretch, obverse, cover, facet, outside, plane, periphery, rind, veneer

Example sentences from the Web for externality

British Dictionary definitions for externality

externality
/ (ˌɛkstɜːˈnælɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the state or condition of being external
something external
philosophy the quality of existing independently of a perceiving mind
an economic effect that results from an economic choice but is not reflected in market prices