To express or make something visible or apparent, especially thoughts or feelings. She externalized her anxiety by talking about her fears with her friends.
To attribute something, such as a feeling or a thought, to an external cause or object. He externalized his anger by blaming the traffic for his bad mood.
To transfer or shift (costs, risks, or responsibilities) to an outside party, especially so that they are not borne by oneself or one’s organization. By outsourcing production, the corporation externalized many of its labor costs.