English Reference
Adverb

intrinsically

adv. manner
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪnˈtɹɪnsɪkəɫi/ UK /ɪntɹˈɪnzɪkli/ in·trin·si·cal·ly

adv.describes a quality that is a natural and permanent part of something. You use it to say that a characteristic cannot be separated from the thing itself.

adv.in an essential or natural way; by the very nature of the subject. Often used to describe qualities that are inherent rather than added or external.


SIMPLE

The job is intrinsically difficult but very rewarding.

CONTEXTUAL

Most experts agree that the two issues are intrinsically linked and cannot be solved separately.

COMPLEX

The philosopher argued that human beings are not intrinsically selfish, but rather that social structures often incentivise competitive behaviour over cooperation.

Usage

Typically placed before an adjective or a past participle to modify an inherent state.

The experiments showed that PCM1 can intrinsically form granules through multimerization—the binding of multiple PCM1 molecules to one another.

Phys.org· 20 Aug 2026

While there is no single, agreed-upon definition of play, many agree that it is any activity that is intrinsically motivated, freely chosen and enjoyable .

The Conversation· 28 Jul 2026

From intrinsic + -ally.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated