Intrinsic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /in-ˈtrin-zik/ in·trin·sic

Meaning & Definition of Intrinsic

Intrinsic (adjective)

  1. belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing, occurring as a natural part of something
  2. 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
  3. originating or due to causes within a body, organ, or part

Intrinsic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing

    "the question of whether people have an intrinsic sense of right and wrong"

    similar: built-in, constitutional, constitutive, essential, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrain, ingrained, inherent, innate, integral, native, natural, in one's blood
    related: basic, deep-rooted, elemental, fundamental, congenital, hereditary, inherited, inmost, inner, interior, internal, characteristic, distinctive, peculiar, habitual, inveterate, normal, regular, typical
    opposite: adventitious, extraneous, extrinsic
    near: alien, foreign, accidental, coincidental, incidental, acquired, adscititious, superficial, surface, exterior, external

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Intrinsic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Intrinsic:

built-in, constitutional, constitutive, essential, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrain, ingrained, inherent, innate, integral, native, natural, in one's blood

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Intrinsic

Words with the opposite meaning of Intrinsic:

adventitious, extraneous, extrinsic

Related Words for Intrinsic

basic, deep-rooted, elemental, fundamental, congenital, hereditary, inherited, inmost, inner, interior, internal, characteristic, distinctive, peculiar, habitual, inveterate, normal, regular, typical

Near Antonyms of Intrinsic

alien, foreign, accidental, coincidental, incidental, acquired, adscititious, superficial, surface, exterior, external

Origin & Etymology of Intrinsic

French intrinsèque internal, from Late Latin intrinsecus, from Latin, adverb, inwardly; akin to Latin intra within intra-

First known use: 1635

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Intrinsic

Words & Phrases Containing Intrinsic

intrinsic factor

Frequently Asked Questions about Intrinsic

What does "Intrinsic" mean?

"Intrinsic" means belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing, occurring as a natural part of something. As an adjective, it is defined as: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing, occurring as a natural part of something.

What is another word for "Intrinsic"?

Other words for "Intrinsic" include built-in, constitutional, constitutive, essential, hardwired, immanent, inborn and inbred. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Intrinsic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Intrinsic"?

There are 36 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Intrinsic". Common alternatives include built-in, constitutional, constitutive, essential, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous and ingrain.

What is the opposite of "Intrinsic"?

Antonyms of "Intrinsic" include adventitious, extraneous and extrinsic. Near antonyms include alien, foreign, accidental and coincidental.

How do you use "Intrinsic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Intrinsic" in a sentence: "the question of whether people have an intrinsic sense of right and wrong".

Is "Intrinsic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Intrinsic" is an adjective.

Is "Intrinsic" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Intrinsic"?

"Intrinsic" is pronounced /in-ˈtrin-zik/ and divided into syllables as in·trin·sic.