foreign relations: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Political, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “foreign relations” mean?
The political, economic, and diplomatic interactions between a country and other countries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The political, economic, and diplomatic interactions between a country and other countries.
The management and conduct of a country's interactions with other nations, including diplomacy, treaties, trade, security, and cultural exchange; also refers to the academic study of these interactions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term 'foreign relations' is standard in both. The US has a 'Department of State' handling foreign relations, while the UK has the 'Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office' (FCDO).
Connotations
In both varieties, the term carries formal, governmental, and diplomatic connotations. In the US, it is strongly associated with the President and the State Department. In the UK, it is associated with the FCDO and the monarchy's diplomatic role.
Frequency
Equally frequent in formal political and academic discourse in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “foreign relations” in a Sentence
[Country] has [adjective] foreign relations with [country].The [government body] is responsible for foreign relations.Foreign relations between [country A] and [country B] are [status].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foreign relations” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government is working to normalise foreign relations with its neighbour.
- They sought to strengthen foreign relations through trade.
American English
- The administration moved to repair foreign relations after the crisis.
- The senator focuses on legislating foreign relations.
adjective
British English
- The foreign-relations portfolio is held by the deputy prime minister.
- They attended a foreign-relations briefing.
American English
- The foreign-relations committee will hold a hearing.
- She has extensive foreign-relations experience.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a company's dealings with overseas partners, governments, and markets, though 'international business relations' is more common.
Academic
Central term in Political Science and International Relations disciplines, referring to the study or practice of interstate interactions.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; used when discussing news about politics, war, or diplomacy.
Technical
Precise term in political and legal documents describing the jurisdiction and activities of a state's diplomatic corps.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foreign relations”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foreign relations”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foreign relations”
- Using it as a plural count noun (e.g., 'three foreign relations' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'foreign policy' (which is the strategy, while 'relations' is the state of interaction).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as a singular concept grammatically (e.g., 'Foreign relations is her specialty'), despite the plural noun 'relations'.
'Foreign relations' refers to the actual interactions and state of affairs between countries. 'Foreign policy' is the set of principles, strategies, and goals a government adopts to guide those interactions.
In a strict sense, the term is reserved for state-level interactions. A business would refer to 'international relations', 'overseas operations', or 'global partnerships'.
In practice, they are often used interchangeably. However, 'international relations' can be broader, encompassing non-state actors (like NGOs), while 'foreign relations' typically emphasises the perspective and actions of a single state.
The political, economic, and diplomatic interactions between a country and other countries.
Foreign relations is usually formal, academic, political, journalistic in register.
Foreign relations: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒr.ɪn rɪˈleɪ.ʃənz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːr.ən rɪˈleɪ.ʃənz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “mend fences (in foreign relations)”
- “a diplomatic cold snap”
- “on the world stage”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FOREIGN minister RELATING to ministers from other countries.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOREIGN RELATIONS ARE A COMPLEX WEB/NETWORK. (e.g., 'weaving a web of alliances', 'a tangled network of relations').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is closest in meaning to 'foreign relations'?