1
: produced by growth from superficial tissue
exogenous roots produced by leaves
2
a
: caused by factors (such as food or a traumatic factor) or an agent (such as a disease-producing organism) from outside the organism or system
exogenous obesity
exogenous psychic depression
exogenous market fluctuations
b
: introduced from or produced outside the organism or system
specifically : not synthesized within the organism or system
exogenously adverb

Examples of exogenous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Opioids, whether endogenous or those found in narcotics (called exogenous opioids), bind to opioid receptors located on the outer membrane of nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and other organs. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025 The discipline followed Profar testing positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, which means testosterone that was not produced by his body. Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026 Berryhill added that humans constantly juggle two competing forms of attention—endogenous, or top-down focus, and exogenous, or bottom-up distraction. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 The primary exogenous variable driving the rapid expansion of household COGS is the energy shock. Katica Roy, Fortune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for exogenous

Word History

Etymology

French exogène exogenous, from exo- + -gène (from Greek -genēs born) — more at -gen

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exogenous was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exogenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exogenous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

exogenous

adjective
1
: growing from or on the outside
exogenous spores
2
: caused by factors (as food or a traumatic event) or an agent (as a disease-producing organism) from outside the organism or system
exogenous obesity
exogenous depression
3
: introduced from or produced outside the organism or system
specifically : not synthesized within the organism or system compare endogenous
exogenously adverb
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