ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intern

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɪntɝn// in·tern Archaic

n. a student or recent graduate who works at a company for a short time to get experience. You usually do this to learn about a job you want in the future.

n. a student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.


SIMPLE

She is working as an intern at a law firm this summer.

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing department hired a summer intern to help manage their social media accounts and organize the annual conference.

COMPLEX

While the position is unpaid, the intern gains invaluable exposure to the inner workings of a high-stakes architectural firm and builds a professional network for their future career.

Synonyms
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.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'do', 'serve', or 'work as'.

© 2026 English Reference