We consider a group G that does not have the independence property and study the definability of certain subgroups of G, using parameters from a fixed elementary extension G of G. If X is a definable subset of G, its trace on G is called an externally definable subset. If H is a definable subgroup of G, we call its trace on G an external subgroup. We show the following. For any subset A of G and any external subgroup H of G, the centraliser of A, the A-core of H and the iterated centres of H are external subgroups. The normaliser of H and the iterated centralisers of A are externally definable. A soluble subgroup S of derived length ℓ is contained in an S-invariant externally definable soluble subgroup of G of derived length ℓ. The subgroup S is also contained in an externally definable subgroup X ∩ G of G such that X generates a soluble subgroup of G of derived length ℓ. Analogue results are discussed when G is merely a type definable group in a structure that does not have the independence property.
