English · Word Candidate

intern

/ɪnˈtɝn/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: interns · interning · interned

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person who is interned, forcibly or voluntarily.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To imprison somebody, usually without trial.

Verb

Examples

The US government interned thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To imprison somebody, usually without trial. — To confine or hold (foreign military personnel who stray into the state's territory) within prescribed limits during wartime.

Verb

Examples

The Swiss government interned the Italian soldiers who had strayed onto Swiss territory.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A student or recent graduate who works in order to gain experience in their chosen field.

Noun

Examples

Students know that working as an intern can provide contacts and all-important experience in their chosen fields. And last year, 26 percent of graduates hired by companies had worked as interns, compared with 9 percent the year before.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “intern” mean?

A person who is interned, forcibly or voluntarily.

Is “intern” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.