# internalized

/ˌɪnˈtɝnəˌɫaɪzd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/internalized
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to adopt a belief or habit

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to learn a rule or idea so well that you follow it without thinking.

For teachers: to incorporate external values, norms, or knowledge into one's own character or subconscious through learning or socialisation.

- After living in the city for a year, she had internalized the local customs and no longer felt like a tourist.
- The students had so thoroughly internalized the laboratory safety protocols that they reached for their goggles instinctively before the experiment even began.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, such as a value, rule, or belief.

Teaching tip: In educational contexts, this often refers to moving from conscious learning to automatic mastery.

### 2. held against oneself

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

describing negative ideas about your own group that you have started to believe are true.

For teachers: describing prejudices or discriminatory views that a person has adopted against their own social group as a result of societal pressure.

- He struggled with internalized shame about his accent until he met other successful people from his hometown.
- The study examined how internalized stereotypes can negatively impact the academic performance and self-esteem of minority students.

Usage: Usually appears before a noun, often paired with words like 'prejudice', 'racism', or 'homophobia'.

Teaching tip: This is a common term in sociology and psychology; it describes a specific type of psychological burden rather than just a personal opinion.

## Examples

- The child internalized the rules of the game quickly.
- The athlete internalized the coach's advice and performed much better during the final match.
- By internalizing the cultural norms of the new country, the immigrant found it easier to navigate the local bureaucracy and build a sense of belonging.

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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.