adj C2 Proficient Uncommon

intrinsic

ihn-TRIHN-zihk

Intrinsic (adj) means belonging to something by its very nature; essential and built-in, not added from outside. Example: “The intrinsic value of the painting has nothing to do with its price tag.”

adj

Belonging to something by its very nature; essential and built-in, not added from outside.

"The intrinsic value of the painting has nothing to do with its price tag."

"Curiosity is intrinsic to how children learn."

How to use intrinsic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA core, natural part of something — not something added on.

Common mistake

The opposite is "extrinsic" (coming from outside).

Easily confused with

extrinsic → intricate → inherent →

Common pairings

intrinsic value intrinsic motivation intrinsic to

Word forms

more intrinsic comparative, intrinsics plural, most intrinsic superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ value of the painting has nothing to do with its price tag.

Etymology

From Latin intrīnsecus, "on the inside, inwardly," from an assumed intrim ("within") + secus ("on the side of").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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built-in essential immanent inborn resident infused inbuilt ingrained inherent integral inwrought radical

Antonyms

alien external extrinsic foreign

Related words

need important foreign key included born necessary internal

Frequently asked questions

What does “intrinsic” mean?

The word “intrinsic” means belonging to something by its very nature; essential and built-in, not added from outside. In plain terms, a core, natural part of something — not something added on.

How do you pronounce “intrinsic”?

“Intrinsic” is pronounced ihn-TRIHN-zihk (/ɪnˈtɹɪn.zɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “intrinsic” in a sentence?

Here is “intrinsic” used in a sentence: “The intrinsic value of the painting has nothing to do with its price tag.”

What is another word for “intrinsic”?

Words with a similar meaning to “intrinsic” include built-in, essential, immanent, inborn, resident and infused.

What is the opposite of “intrinsic”?

The opposite of “intrinsic” — its antonyms — are alien, external, extrinsic and foreign.

What part of speech is “intrinsic”?

“Intrinsic” is an adjective.

Where does the word “intrinsic” come from?

The word “intrinsic” comes from Latin. From Latin intrīnsecus, "on the inside, inwardly," from an assumed intrim ("within") + secus ("on the side of").

Is “intrinsic” a common word?

“Intrinsic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

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