noun
Uncommon
intern
ihn-TURN
Intern (noun) means a student or recent graduate working temporarily, often unpaid or low-paid, to gain experience. Example: “She spent the summer as an intern at a marketing agency.”
noun
1
A student or recent graduate working temporarily, often unpaid or low-paid, to gain experience.
"She spent the summer as an intern at a marketing agency."
"The company hired a new intern to help with filing and phone calls."
"As an intern at the hospital, he learned a great deal from the nurses."
verb
1
To imprison or confine someone, often without trial, especially during wartime.
"Thousands of civilians were interned during the war."
"The government decided to intern enemy soldiers captured at the border."
"Many foreign residents were interned in camps until the conflict ended."
2
To work as an intern.
"He interned at a law firm the summer before his final year."
"I want to intern at a museum before I apply for a full-time job."
"She interned for a local newspaper while finishing her degree."
How to use intern
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a trainee gaining work experience, or (as a verb) to confine someone by force.
Common mistake
These two meanings — "trainee" and "to confine by force" — come from the same root but are unrelated in modern use; context makes clear which is meant.
Common pairings
summer intern
intern at a company
interned during the war
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Word forms
- Plural
- interns
- Third person singular
- interns
- Past tense
- interned
- Comparative
- more intern
- Superlative
- most intern
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She spent the summer as an _____ at a marketing agency.
Etymology
From French interner, from interne ("inner, internal"), from Latin internus.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “intern” mean?
The word “intern” means a student or recent graduate working temporarily, often unpaid or low-paid, to gain experience. In plain terms, either a trainee gaining work experience, or (as a verb) to confine someone by force.
How do you pronounce “intern”?
“Intern” is pronounced ihn-TURN (/ɪnˈtɝn/ in IPA).
How do you use “intern” in a sentence?
Here is “intern” used in a sentence: “She spent the summer as an intern at a marketing agency.”
What part of speech is “intern”?
Depending on how it is used, “intern” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “intern” come from?
The word “intern” comes from Latin. From French interner, from interne ("inner, internal"), from Latin internus.
Is “intern” a common word?
“Intern” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “intern” have?
“Intern” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a student or recent graduate working temporarily, often unpaid or low-paid, to gain experience.
What is the difference between an intern and an apprentice?
An intern is typically a student or recent graduate working temporarily, often unpaid or low-paid, to gain experience, frequently in office, corporate, or professional settings. An apprentice usually trains in a skilled trade under a more structured, longer-term arrangement that often includes formal certification at the end.
Why does intern have two such different verb meanings?
As a verb, intern can mean to work as an intern, gaining experience in a field, or it can mean to imprison or confine someone, often without trial, especially during wartime. These are unrelated meanings that happen to share the same spelling, so context determines which sense applies.
Is an internship the same as a job?
An internship is a temporary position, often for a student, aimed primarily at gaining work experience rather than long-term employment, and it may be unpaid or paid less than a standard job. Some internships lead to full-time job offers, but the primary purpose is training and experience rather than ongoing employment.
