What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
otherness
Example
The artist's work explores themes of otherness and identity. [otherness: noun]
Example
She felt a sense of otherness among her peers due to her unconventional beliefs. [otherness: noun]
foreignness
Example
The restaurant served exotic dishes that were full of foreign flavors. [foreignness: noun]
Example
He struggled with the foreignness of the language when he moved to a new country. [foreignness: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Foreignness is more commonly used than otherness in everyday language, especially in discussions of travel, culture, and immigration.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between otherness and foreignness?
Both otherness and foreignness are relatively formal words, but otherness is more commonly used in academic or philosophical contexts, while foreignness is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
