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 of internal

• 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The merch was originally made for OpenAI employees to purchase on an internal site, but the team decided to make a small capsule collection available to the public. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

The Nationals are reluctant to rush King up to the majors, according to people familiar with the team’s thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman warned at the United Nations Thursday that Yemen’s internal collapse is increasingly threatening interests far beyond its borders. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Like many who were taken to Tuol Sleng, Bou Meng had joined the Khmer Rouge in its war from 1970–75 to unseat a pro-American government, but was detained in one of its many internal purges after victory. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

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