innards

plural noun

in·​nards ˈi-nərdz 

1

: the internal organs of a human being or animal

especially : viscera

2

: the internal parts especially of a structure or mechanism

Synonyms of innards

• entrails
• viscera
• inside(s)
• gut
• vitals
• inwards

Examples of innards in a Sentence

unpleasant memories of having to examine the innards of a frog for science class

consumers are warned against poking around in the innards of the air conditioner

Recent Examples on the Web

Rinse turkey in a large bowl of water set in sink, removing any innards, and pat dry. — Amy Thielen, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022

Seismic waves plunge through Earth’s innards before being detected by surface seismometers. — Robin George Andrews, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2022

Asus has made the Z13 look cooler than your average tablet, too, with a retro-futurist design that includes a small window to give you a peek at its impressive innards. — Stephen Slaybaugh, Popular Mechanics, 6 Feb. 2023

When their environment gets too stressful, many bacteria stuff some of their innards into ultratough packets called spores, which shut down and wait—potentially for centuries—for things to improve. — Elise Cutts, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

alteration of inwards

First Known Use

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

innards

plural noun

in·​nards ˈin-ərdz 

1

: the internal organs of a human being or animal

especially : viscera

2

: the internal parts of a structure or machine

Medical Definition

innards

noun plural

in·​nards ˈin-ərdz 

: the internal organs of a human being or animal

especially : viscera