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intern

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈɪntɝn// in·tern
  1. 1 a trainee (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a student or recent graduate who works at a job to get experience in their field.

    a student or recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training in a professional setting.

    Example

    She spent her summer working as an intern at a local law firm to learn about the legal system.

    Example

    The marketing department hired three interns to assist with the social media campaign during the busy summer season.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'at' for the company or 'in' for the department.
  2. 2 a prisoner (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a person who is kept in a special prison or camp, especially during a war.

    a person who is confined or impounded, typically for political or military reasons rather than as a criminal punishment.

    Example

    The government released several interns who had been held in the camp since the start of the conflict.

    Example

    International observers were finally granted access to the facility to inspect the living conditions of the political interns.
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  1. 3 to imprison (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    to put someone in prison or a camp for political or military reasons, usually without a trial.

    to confine or impound someone, especially during wartime or for political reasons, without formal criminal charges.

    Example

    During the war, many foreign citizens were interned in remote parts of the country.

    Example

    The emergency legislation allowed the state to intern suspected insurgents indefinitely without the requirement of a public trial.

    Usage

    This verb is transitive and typically used in the passive voice.
  2. 4 to work as a trainee (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to work at a company for a short time to learn the job.

    to serve as an intern in a professional or medical capacity.

    Example

    He decided to intern at a tech company to improve his coding skills before graduating.

    Example

    She chose to intern with a non-profit organisation to gain experience in international development before applying for a master's degree.

    Usage

    This verb is intransitive and often takes the preposition 'at' or 'with'.
  3. 5 internal (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    an old word for something that is inside or internal.

    relating to the inside; internal. This usage is largely restricted to historical or literary contexts.

    Example

    The poet wrote about the intern struggles of the human soul.

    Example

    The scholar examined the intern structures of the medieval government, focusing on the private councils of the king.
Etymology 1

From French interner, from interne (“inner, internal”), from Latin internus (“within, internal”), compare Etymology 2.

Etymology 2

From French interne (“inner, internal”), from Latin internus (“within, internal”), from inter (“between”); compare Etymology 1.

Word family

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