built-in

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbilt-ˈin 

1

a

: forming an integral part of a structure or object

a camera with a built-in flash

especially : constructed as or in a recess in a wall

a built-in bookshelf

b

: built into the ground

a built-in swimming pool

2

a

: inherent

a built-in advantage

b

: already established

Their best-seller status gave them a built-in audience.

built-in

2 of 2

noun

ˈbilt-ˌin 

: a built-in piece of furniture

Synonyms of built-in

Adjective

• inherent
• intrinsic
• integral
• essential

Examples of built-in in a Sentence

Adjective

a poker player with a seemingly built-in ability to read his opponents' faces

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Additionally, this doorbell has built-in local storage up to 128GB, eliminating the need for cloud storage or pesky subscription fees! — George Yang, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026

Amazon shoppers have found a handful of travel-friendly pants that check all the boxes, with perks like water-resistant materials and built-in UPF protection. — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026

The insoles have built-in arch support with memory foam footbeds, and they’re designed to hug your feet for a snug fit that feels broken in from day one. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026

Many job seekers worry that AI interviewers may have built-in biases regarding race, ethnicity, age, gender or manner of speaking. — Sophie Caldwell juhohn Lee, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1919, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for built-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

Kids Definition

built-in

adjective

ˈbil-ˈtin

1

: forming a permanent part of a structure or object

built-in bookcases

2

: built into the ground

a built-in swimming pool