# intern

/ˈɪntɝn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intern
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a trainee

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The government released several interns who had been held in the camp since the start of the conflict.
- International observers were finally granted access to the facility to inspect the living conditions of the political interns.

### 3. to imprison

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

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

### 4. to work as a trainee

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 5. internal

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word for something that is inside or internal.

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

- The poet wrote about the intern struggles of the human soul.
- The scholar examined the intern structures of the medieval government, focusing on the private councils of the king.

## Examples

- She is working as an intern at a law firm this summer.
- The marketing department hired a summer intern to help manage their social media accounts and organize the annual conference.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.