intrinsic

adjective

in·​trin·​sic in-ˈtrin-zik How to pronounce intrinsic (audio) -ˈtrin(t)-sik How to pronounce intrinsic (audio)
1
a
: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing
the intrinsic worth of a gem
the intrinsic brightness of a star
b
: being or relating to a semiconductor in which the concentration of charge carriers is characteristic of the material itself instead of the content of any impurities it contains
2
a
: originating or due to causes within a body, organ, or part
an intrinsic metabolic disease
b
: originating and included wholly within an organ or part
intrinsic muscles
compare extrinsic sense 1b

Examples of intrinsic in a Sentence

He is the ideal courtier. His nobility is intrinsic, and so he can drape himself in this purple cloak of tasteful modernity, make a cocktail of past and present, the cream of both. Noah Charney, The Art Thief, 2007
Subatomic particles have an intrinsic orientation known as spin, which can point in one of two directions, conventionally called "up" and "down." Abraham Loeb, Scientific American, November 2006
Yet despite the digital culture's endless celebrations of diversity … there is a certain mindless repetition intrinsic to the Internet, where ideas and software multiply a thousandfold with one click; where the lure of wider communication drives users toward an ultimate "interoperability" and, hence, toward an ultimate uniformity. Julian Dibbell, Harper's, August 2001
the intrinsic value of a gem the intrinsic brightness of a star
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.
The theory is that these things aren’t an intrinsic part of the business’s operations. John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Keynes’s prediction failed to come to pass, thanks to consumers’ insatiable appetite for stuff, the intrinsic satisfaction of work, and the uneven distributional consequences of technological progress. Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025 Yet the theme is generally used as background atmosphere, a fun environment but not intrinsic to the plot. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025 In that case, scientists need to extract signs of consciousness solely from intrinsic brain properties. Mariana Lenharo & Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intrinsic

Word History

Etymology

French intrinsèque internal, from Late Latin intrinsecus, from Latin, adverb, inwardly; akin to Latin intra within — more at intra-

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of intrinsic was in 1635

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intrinsic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intrinsic. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

intrinsic

adjective
in·​trin·​sic in-ˈtrin-zik How to pronounce intrinsic (audio)
-ˈtrin(t)-sik
: belonging to the essential nature of a thing
the intrinsic value of a gem
intrinsically adverb

Medical Definition

intrinsic

adjective
in·​trin·​sic in-ˈtrin-zik How to pronounce intrinsic (audio) -ˈtrin(t)-sik How to pronounce intrinsic (audio)
1
: originating or due to causes or factors within a body, organ, or part
intrinsic asthma
2
: originating and included wholly within an organ or part
used especially of certain muscles
the cricothyroid is an intrinsic muscle of the larynx
compare extrinsic sense 2

Legal Definition

intrinsic

adjective
in·​trin·​sic in-ˈtrin-zik, -sik How to pronounce intrinsic (audio)
: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing

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