foreign policy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Political, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “foreign policy” mean?
A government's strategy or set of principles for dealing with other nations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A government's strategy or set of principles for dealing with other nations.
The planned course of action and overall framework that a country uses to guide its interactions, negotiations, and relations with foreign states and international organizations. It encompasses diplomatic, economic, military, and cultural dimensions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The term is identical and equally standard in both varieties. Conceptual focus may vary based on the nation's geopolitical role.
Connotations
Neutral and official in both varieties. In the UK, may historically connote a balance between European, Commonwealth, and transatlantic relations. In the US, often connotes a debate between interventionism and isolationism.
Frequency
Very high frequency in political discourse in both the UK and US, with no discernible difference in usage rate.
Grammar
How to Use “foreign policy” in a Sentence
[Country/Possessive] + foreign policy + [be/is/was] + [adjective/complement][Verb: formulate, pursue, shape] + foreign policyforeign policy + [preposition: of, toward(s), on, regarding] + [country/issue]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foreign policy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister sought to foreign-policy his way through the crisis. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- The administration attempted to foreign-policy the issue. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The government acted foreign-policy-wise. (highly non-standard)
American English
- They thought about it foreign-policy-ly. (highly non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The foreign-policy implications were significant.
- He is a leading foreign-policy thinker.
American English
- The foreign-policy establishment reacted strongly.
- A major foreign-policy address is scheduled.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when discussing how government international relations affect trade, sanctions, and market access.
Academic
Central term in Political Science, International Relations, and History; analyzed for its formulation, implementation, and effects.
Everyday
Used in news discussions and political debates; laypersons use it to refer generally to how their country deals with the world.
Technical
In political and diplomatic circles, refers to specific doctrines, white papers, and strategic documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foreign policy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foreign policy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foreign policy”
- Incorrect: 'politic of foreign' / 'policy of foreign'. Correct: 'foreign policy'.
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'foreign policies' can be correct when referring to multiple distinct strategies, but often the uncountable 'foreign policy' is used for the general concept.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun, typically written as separate words without a hyphen.
Yes, 'foreign policies' can be used when referring to the distinct strategies of multiple countries (e.g., 'comparing the foreign policies of France and Germany') or different historical strategies of one country.
'Foreign policy' is the overarching strategy and set of goals. 'Diplomacy' is one of the primary tools or methods used to implement that policy through negotiation and dialogue.
It is formally made by the executive branch of a government (e.g., the President/Prime Minister and their cabinet, especially the Foreign Minister/Secretary of State), often in consultation with or under scrutiny from the legislative branch (Parliament/Congress).
A government's strategy or set of principles for dealing with other nations.
Foreign policy is usually formal, political, academic, journalistic in register.
Foreign policy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒr.ɪn ˈpɒl.ə.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːr.ɪn ˈpɑː.lə.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A cornerstone of foreign policy”
- “Foreign policy U-turn”
- “To conduct a foreign policy of...”
- “To be the architect of foreign policy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FOREIGN POLICY as the PLAN a country makes for playing on the WORLD stage. FOREIGN = other countries, POLICY = the official rules/game plan.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOREIGN POLICY IS A NAVIGATIONAL CHART/GUIDE (e.g., chart a course, steer a policy). FOREIGN POLICY IS A TOOL/INSTRUMENT (e.g., a tool for promoting values, an instrument of power).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most direct antonym of 'foreign policy'?