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intern

intern
NounTransitive Verb
pl: internspast: internedpp: interneding: interning

As a noun, this term describes a transitional professional role. It carries a connotation of apprenticeship and learning, often implying a power imbalance where the individual performs entry-level tasks to prove their competence or earn credentials.

As a verb, the word shifts to a starkly different semantic domain involving state-sanctioned confinement. It is almost exclusively used in political or military contexts, evoking images of detention camps and the suspension of civil liberties during wartime.

Meanings

Nounintern

A student or graduate who works in a professional organization to gain practical experience, often for a limited period and sometimes without pay.

She started her career as a legal intern at a top firm in London.

Transitive Verbintern
[~ someone]

To confine someone in a place, typically a camp or prison, especially for political or military reasons during a war.

The government decided to intern enemy aliens during the conflict.

Phrasal Verbs

intern as

to hold an internship in a specific role or capacity

She spent the summer interning as a junior analyst at the investment bank.

Related Words

Last Updated: July 6, 2026Report an Error