interior

1 of 2

adjective

in·​te·​ri·​or in-ˈtir-ē-ər How to pronounce interior (audio)
Synonyms of interiornext
1
: lying, occurring, or functioning within the limiting boundaries : inner
an interior point of a triangle
2
: belonging to mental or spiritual life
a simple interior piety
3
: belonging to the inner constitution or concealed nature of something
interior meaning of a poem
4
: lying away or remote from the border or shore
interiorly adverb

interior

2 of 2

noun

1
: the inner or spiritual nature : character
2
: the interior part (as of a country or island)
3
: the internal or inner part of a thing : inside
4
: the internal affairs of a state or nation
5
: a representation (as in a play or movie) of the interior of a building

Examples of interior in a Sentence

Adjective a large car with lots of interior room the novel's characters have plenty of adventures, but their interior lives are never explored Noun a black car with gray leather interior the interior of the house They traveled deep into the interior of Australia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The house, built in 1948, has an interior space of 1,729 square feet. Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 8 June 2026 The structured shape keeps your essentials organized, while the roomy interior fits essentials such as a laptop and a light sweater for chilly flights. Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Noun
There are two dogs, for example, in Bartholomeus van Bassen’s painting of an imagined church interior with the tomb of William the Silent (pictured above, 1620). Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot. Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for interior

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle French & Latin; Middle French interiore, from Latin, comparative of Old Latin *interus inward, on the inside; akin to Latin inter

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of interior was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interior. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

interior

1 of 2 adjective
in·​te·​ri·​or in-ˈtir-ē-ər How to pronounce interior (audio)
1
: existing or occurring within the limits : inner
2
: remote from the border or shore
interiorly adverb

interior

2 of 2 noun
1
: the internal or inner part of something : inside
the interior of a house
2
: the inland part (as of a country or island)
traveled to the interior of Australia
3
: the internal affairs of a state or nation
department of the Interior

Medical Definition

interior

1 of 2 adjective
in·​te·​ri·​or in-ˈtir-ē-ər How to pronounce interior (audio)
: lying, occurring, or functioning within limiting boundaries

interior

2 of 2 noun
: the internal or inner part or cavity of a thing

More from Merriam-Webster on interior

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster