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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

"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 • Feb. 26, 2026

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 • Feb. 26, 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

But then he stumbled upon Martin’s definition of integration—“intergroup and interpersonal living”—and decided to just go with it.

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• social