internal

adjective

in·​ter·​nal in-ˈtər-nᵊl 

ˈin-ˌtər-

1

: existing or situated within the limits or surface of something

a toy's internal mechanism

the internal structure of a planet

2

a

: situated or occurring inside the body

internal bleeding

internal organs

b

: moving or turning towards the center of the body

internal rotation of the shoulder

3

: of, relating to, or occurring within an organized entity (such as a state, company, or club)

the internal workings of the department

an internal memo [=a memo addressed to the people within the entity and not to the general public]

see also internal affairs

4

: relating or belonging to or existing within the mind

internal [=private] doubts

an internal monologue

5

: originating in or dependent on the thing itself : intrinsic, inherent

internal evidence of forgery in a document

6

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

internal stimuli such as hunger and thirst

7

: 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

Italy imposed the border controls -- which amounted to random police checks at airports and seaports for passengers arriving from Spain -- by claiming a threat to its internal security. — Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026

But during a massive internal update, performance art is often the first thing that causes suffering. — Patrick Murphy, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Therefore, each internal intersection point is connected by four edges, resulting in a total of 4 × B(n, 4) edges. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Italy imposed the border controls – which amounted to random police checks at airports and seaports for passengers arriving from Spain – by claiming a threat to its internal security. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 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 affairs
• 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