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
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 Feb. 2026 Scrub And Clean Now take your brush and scrub off all the gunk, making sure to hit both top and bottom and every interior corner of the grid. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
The second best-selling style from the online outlet, the Michael Kors Jet Set Crossbody Bag is beloved by shoppers for its versatility, classic style, simple silhouette, and spacious interior. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2026 Tools like ambient lighting, coupled with current design trends, allow car buyers to personalize their interiors for comfort and style, making the most of time spent in the car. Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 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 7 Mar. 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

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