interpersonal

American  

[in-ter-pur-suh-nl] / ˌɪn tərˈpɜr sə nl /

adjective

1. of or pertaining to the relations between persons.

   As a leader goes higher in an organization, commonly their technical skills are called upon less and less, while their interpersonal skills become more important.

2. existing or occurring between persons.

   It is unlikely that someone with paranoia will thrive in interpersonal relationships.

   She is trained and certified in the treatment of emotional trauma resulting from interpersonal violence.

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interpersonal British  

/ ˌɪntəˈpɜːsənəl /

adjective

1. between persons; involving personal relationships

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Other Word Forms

• interpersonally adverb

Etymology

Origin of interpersonal

First recorded in 1835–45; inter- + personal

Compare meaning

How does interpersonal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• interpersonal vs. intrapersonal

Example Sentences

Maybe check-ins or small requests can be handled in a group chat, but interpersonal issues or big decisions need to happen over the phone, Zoom or in person, and right away.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We need to start a discourse about how we as a society -- through our norms, structural factors, and interpersonal relationships -- address the challenges of aging."

From Science Daily

For example, many senior roles require strong interpersonal and communication skills, and there are plenty of entry-level jobs that offer the opportunity to develop these, says Ghislaine Dell, head of careers at Bath University.

From BBC

McKenzie also has to provide emotional support to the team when issues like isolation and interpersonal conflict in close quarters get too much.

From BBC

As players frequently remind themselves and us, beneath the histrionics and interpersonal drama is simple gameplay.

From Salon

Related Words

• social