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

Explanation

Interpersonal refers to something involving, or occurring among several people. Interpersonal skills refer to our ability to get along with others. The adjective interpersonal really only has one meaning, so when you hear this word, you know you're hearing about interactions between people. Sometimes corporations find it useful to train their employees on any interpersonal skills they may be lacking, especially if they have a group of really socially awkward people, because it really does make the work environment a lot easier if your coworkers all get along with one another.

Example Sentences

Another argument has taken hold in Silicon Valley: interpersonal skills will become more valuable than ever, with some voices going so far as to tout a humanities education as sound tech career preparation.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

“It’s never too late to encourage — and model — positive interpersonal skills,” Turner says.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

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 • Feb. 22, 2026

In his case, he turned to the chatbot for some guidance through interpersonal issues, but within a few exchanges, the bot’s responses were so validating that he became hooked.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

Youths get “positive checks” for complying with the rules, but also for using the interpersonal skills necessary to do well on the outside—skills like asking for help or talking through a conflict.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Related Words

• social