ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intrinsic

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnˈtɹɪnsɪk// UK //ɪntɹˈɪnzɪk// in·trin·sic Academic

adj. describing a quality that is a natural and basic part of something, rather than coming from the outside.

adj. belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing; inherent and not dependent on external circumstances.


SIMPLE

Flexibility is intrinsic to this type of material.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher believed that every child has an intrinsic desire to learn and explore the world.

COMPLEX

While the market value of the painting fluctuates based on demand, its intrinsic historical significance remains unchanged by the whims of collectors.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle French intrinsèque, from Latin intrīnsecus (“on the inside, inwardly”), from *intrim, an assumed adverbial form of inter (“within”) + secus (“by, on the side”).

Usage

Typically used predicatively after a linking verb or attributively before a noun; often followed by the preposition 'to'.

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