intrinsic

adjective

in·trin·sic in-ˈtrin-zik

-ˈtrin(t)-sik

Synonyms of intrinsic next

: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing

the intrinsic worth of a gem

the intrinsic brightness of a star

: 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

: originating or due to causes within a body, organ, or part

an intrinsic metabolic disease

: originating and included wholly within an organ or part

intrinsic muscles

compare extrinsic sense 1b

Example Sentences

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 Celsius’s failure was, in fact, intrinsic to its business model, the investigators found. —

Scott Nover, Quartz, 31 Jan. 2023 The violence is intrinsic to the sport—a feature of it. —

Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2023 Dosunmu’s commitment to the community is intrinsic to his history in Chicago. —

Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Oct. 2022 In the everywhere workplace, there is no watercooler or lunchroom where employees can strike up those everyday conversations that are intrinsic to developing relationships that ultimately strengthen a company’s culture. —

Sal Viveros, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022 The doughnut shape seems to be intrinsic to how grid cells represent space. —

Kelsey Houston-edwards, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2022 That desire to transform what is into what could be is intrinsic to her way of working. —

Aruna D’souza, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Silvery tones appear to be intrinsic, yet have an unnatural quality, in a close-up video of gently rippling water. —

Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 In another, the confusing origins of the concept of race are broken down to the basics, exposing the classification’s intrinsic tie to misogynoir and how that discrimination continues to be observable in modern-day reproductive justice discourse. —

Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 2 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intrinsic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.