# intranet

/ˈɪntɹənˌɛt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intranet
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a private computer network that only people inside a specific company or organization can use. It works like the internet but is not open to the public.

For teachers: a private network accessible only to an organization's staff, typically used for internal communication and information sharing. It utilizes internet protocols but is isolated from the public web by a firewall.

## Examples

- I found the employee handbook on the company intranet.
- New employees are encouraged to check the intranet daily for internal job postings and corporate announcements.
- While the public website serves as the face of the corporation, the intranet remains the primary repository for sensitive internal documentation and collaborative project management tools.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I searched it on intranet" but "I searched it on the intranet" — Like 'the internet', 'intranet' usually requires the definite article when referring to the system as a whole.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific organization's network.

---

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.