internal

American  

[in-tur-nl] / ɪnˈtɜr nl /

adjective

1. situated or existing in the interior of something; interior.

   Antonyms:

   external

2. of, relating to, or noting the inside or inner part.

   Antonyms:

   external

3. Pharmacology. oral.

4. existing, occurring, or found within the limits or scope of something; intrinsic.

   a theory having internal logic.

5. of or relating to the domestic affairs of a country.

   the internal politics of a nation.

6. existing solely within the individual mind.

   internal malaise.

7. coming from, produced, or motivated by the psyche or inner recesses of the mind; subjective.

   an internal response.

8. Anatomy, Zoology. inner; not superficial; away from the surface or next to the axis of the body or of a part.

   the internal carotid artery.

9. present or occurring within an organism or one of its parts.

   an internal organ.

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noun

1. Usually internals. entrails; innards.

2. an inner or intrinsic attribute.

internal British  

/ ɪnˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. of, situated on, or suitable for the inside; inner

2. coming or acting from within; interior

3. involving the spiritual or mental life; subjective

4. of or involving a nation's domestic as opposed to foreign affairs

5. education denoting assessment by examiners who are employed at the candidate's place of study

6. situated within, affecting, or relating to the inside of the body

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noun

1. a medical examination of the vagina, uterus, or rectum

Other Word Forms

• internality
  noun
• internally
  adverb
• internalness
  noun
• quasi-internal
  adjective
• quasi-internally
  adverb
• semi-internal
  adjective
• semi-internally
  adverb
• subinternal
  adjective
• subinternally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of internal

First recorded in 1500–10; from Medieval Latin internālis, equivalent to Latin intern(us) intern ³ + ālis -al ¹

Explanation

The adjective internal describes something on the inside. If you're tempted by a second piece of cake, you may have an internal battle with yourself over whether you should eat the cake or not. Internal can also describe something that takes place within a country or a group. You pay your taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, and politicians argue about how to spend your tax dollars when they discuss the country's internal affairs. You may have to write internal reports for your boss––reports that aren't supposed to be seen outside the company.

Example Sentences

The fund was created as part of a settlement under which Trump agreed to drop a lawsuit against his Internal Revenue Service over a leak of his tax returns.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Dominic Leblanc, Canada's Minister of Internal Trade, said on social media that the Liberal government "strongly believes that the interests of Albertans and all Canadians are best served when we work together".

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Internal testing requirements and meeting technological compliance standards can take months, along with various internal review processes.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

Internal government reports also raised questions about the thoroughness of the cleanup.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

I was aware that I was being carefully sized up while he talked primarily of F.B.I. and Internal Revenue Service close surveillance of his organization, and of a rumored forthcoming Congressional probe.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• constitutional
• domestic
• in-house
• intramural
• national
• private
• subjective