intrinsic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent
-
anatomy situated within or peculiar to a part
intrinsic muscles
Related Words
See essential.
Other Word Forms
- intrinsically adverb
Etymology
Origin of intrinsic
First recorded in 1480–90; Middle English intrinsique “inner,” from Old French intrinseque “internal, inner,” from Late Latin intrinsecus “inward” (adjective), from Latin intrinsecus “on the inside, inwards” (adverb), equivalent to intrin- (from int(e)r-, as in interior + -im, an old accusative ending used as an adverb suffix + secus “beside,” derivative of sequī “to follow”)
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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 findings, published in Nature Communications, show that measuring the OAM of two entangled photons reveals an intrinsic topology, a fundamental feature of the entanglement itself.
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026
Because biometrics are intrinsic to an individual, swindlers can’t easily steal this kind of identifying information if you keep tight control over it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
With Occidental stock above $60, those warrants now have intrinsic value.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
The economic consequences are not an accidental byproduct of this conflict, they are an intrinsic aspect of the war.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026
Was their problem with margarine intrinsic to the food itself?
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
