interpersonal skills

plural noun

: the ability to communicate and interact with other people in an effective and friendly way : people skills

Professionally, William had a reputation as a dynamic leader with strong interpersonal skills—the kind of executive who made people feel valued and heard, leading with curiosity and fostering a collaborative approach.

—Monica Wiant

Sports participation … encourages social interaction, which can help children develop their interpersonal skills and provide opportunities to build lifelong friendships.

—Chicago Daily Herald

compare soft skills

Examples of interpersonal skills in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is where emotional intelligence becomes a strategic capability rather than simply an interpersonal skill. — Crispin Beale, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026

At Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, our faculty developed an AI Patient Actor to help medical-school students sharpen their communication and interpersonal skills with the benefit of real-time feedback. — Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

The cast says director Mengel brings together technical and interpersonal skills, with the willingness to give his cast the space to explore. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026

If anything, as processes become more automated, the importance of interpersonal skills becomes even more pronounced. — Niurys Robaina, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for interpersonal skills

• basophils
• daffodils
• neutrophils
• bhils
• bills
• chills
• dills
• drills
• fills
• frills
• gills
• grilles