internal

adjective

in·​ter·​nal in-ˈtər-nᵊl 

ˈin-ˌtər-

1

: existing or situated within the limits or surface of something: such as

a(1)

: situated near the inside of the body

(2)

: situated on the side toward the median plane of the body

b

: of, relating to, or occurring on the inside of an organized structure (such as a club, company, or state)

internal affairs

2

: relating or belonging to or existing within the mind

3

: intrinsic, inherent

internal evidence of forgery in a document

4

: present or arising within an organism or one of its parts

internal stimulus

5

: applied or intended for application through the stomach by being swallowed

an internal remedy

internality

ˌin-ˌtər-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

internally

in-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• inner
• interior

Examples of internal in a Sentence

the internal structure of the planet

a patient who is experiencing internal bleeding

Recent Examples on the Web

The cornea is a perfect alternating stack of tiny fibers that is so regular that light goes right through it, and the cells of the lens have lost nearly all their internal structures (organelles), leaving only a soup of almost identical proteins that don’t interfere much with the passage of light. —Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

Historically, security at ICE facilities has been about protecting agents and detainees from internal threats like detainee aggression, or gang violence, mimicking the criminal justice system, according to experts, ICE detentions standards and the detainee handbook. —Rick Jervis, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025

The letter on behalf of the Disney shareholders — the American Federation of Teachers, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, and Reporters Without Borders — requested the production of internal Disney documents and communications related to the decision to take Kimmel off the air for a week. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025

The prison violence comes amid a state of internal armed conflict that has been in effect across the country since January 2024, despite the military and police deployment in some prisons. —Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English internalle, from Latin internus; akin to Latin inter between

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing internal

• internal bleeding
• internal clock
• internal combustion engine
• internal medicine
• internal respiration
• internal rhyme
• internal secretion

Rhymes for internal

• diurnal
• eternal
• external
• fraternal
• infernal
• maternal
• nocturnal
• paternal
• pimpernel
• colonel
• journal
• kernel

Kids Definition

internal

adjective

in·​ter·​nal in-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

: existing or lying within : inner

internal structure

2

: relating to, occurring, or located in the body

3

: of, relating to, or occurring on the inside of an organized structure (as a company or state)

internal affairs

internally

-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

internal

adjective

in·​ter·​nal in-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

: existing or situated within the limits or surface of something: as

a

: situated near the inside of the body

an internal layer of abdominal muscle

b

: situated on the side toward the midsagittal plane of the body

the internal surface of the lung

2

: present or arising within an organism or one of its parts

an internal stimulus

3

: applied or intended for application through the stomach by being swallowed

an internal remedy

internally

in-ˈtərn-ᵊl-ē 

adverb