internal
Americanadjective
-
situated or existing in the interior of something; interior.
- Antonyms:
- external
-
of, relating to, or noting the inside or inner part.
- Antonyms:
- external
-
Pharmacology. oral.
-
existing, occurring, or found within the limits or scope of something; intrinsic.
a theory having internal logic.
-
of or relating to the domestic affairs of a country.
the internal politics of a nation.
-
existing solely within the individual mind.
internal malaise.
-
coming from, produced, or motivated by the psyche or inner recesses of the mind; subjective.
an internal response.
-
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.
-
present or occurring within an organism or one of its parts.
an internal organ.
noun
-
Usually internals. entrails; innards.
-
an inner or intrinsic attribute.
adjective
-
of, situated on, or suitable for the inside; inner
-
coming or acting from within; interior
-
involving the spiritual or mental life; subjective
-
of or involving a nation's domestic as opposed to foreign affairs
-
education denoting assessment by examiners who are employed at the candidate's place of study
-
situated within, affecting, or relating to the inside of the body
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing internal
List 9
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Narrative Writing, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Lesson 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The CMS paid him a £100 "consolatory payment" and an internal note said mistakes at the time had caused Gerry "gross inconvenience".
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The company has reached an agreement to sell Lingxi Games to Asian private-equity firm Trustar Capital, according to an internal memo viewed by The Wall Street Journal on Monday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Determining what actually carries baryon number matters far beyond the internal structure of a proton.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
After receiving federal grand jury subpoenas in February, Delaware Life and Clear Spring Life and Annuity conducted internal investigations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The other was that of the young man who set out to study the Talmud, not because he had the slightest interest in God but because he was curious about its internal contradictions.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
