Intern
/ɪnˈtɜrn/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A student or recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training in a profession.
She is currently an intern at a local hospital, gaining valuable experience in the medical field.
A person who works for a particular company or organization, often without pay, to gain work experience.
The company has a summer internship program for college students who want to learn about business operations.
verb
To work as an intern.
I will intern at a law firm this summer to understand more about legal practices.
Etymology
Latin 'internus' meaning 'inward, internal'
Common Phrases and Expressions
internship
A period during which a trainee works to gain experience.
intern on the job
To work in a practical capacity at one's internship.
Related Words
apprenticeship
A system of training a new generation of practitioners in a trade or profession.
fellow
A person who has been granted a fellowship, often involved in research.
co-op
A cooperative education program that combines classroom learning with practical work experience.
Slang Meanings
a hopeful future employee
He's just a lowly intern now, but he hopes to be hired full-time soon.
someone doing grunt work for little or no pay
I feel like a glorified coffee intern around here.