internship

The word “internship” means a temporary position, often for a student, aimed at gaining work experience in a particular field. In plain terms, a short-term job, often unpaid or low-paid, that gives someone hands-on experience in a career field.

“Internship” is pronounced IHN-turn-shihp (/ˈɪntɝnʃɪp/ in IPA).

Here is “internship” used in a sentence: “She landed a summer internship at a design studio.”

“Internship” is a noun.

“Internship” is an uncommon word in modern English.

An internship is a temporary position, often for a student, aimed at gaining work experience in a particular field, commonly found in business, media, and professional sectors. An apprenticeship usually involves longer, more structured training in a skilled trade, often combining paid work with formal instruction leading to a qualification.

Internships can be paid or unpaid depending on the industry, country, and employer, though many are lower-paid than standard jobs because the focus is on gaining experience rather than earning a full salary. Some fields, particularly competitive creative or nonprofit sectors, are more likely to offer unpaid internships.

An internship is designed primarily as a temporary position for gaining experience, not as a guarantee of permanent employment, though many employers do use internships to evaluate candidates for future roles. Whether an internship converts to a full-time job depends on the employer, performance, and available openings.