Standard Lemma guide

inter-

prefix · 33 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ɪntə(r)/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, US: /ɪntɚ/
  • Canada, US: [ɪ̃ɾ̃ɚ]
  • Canada, US: [ɪ̃n(ɾ̃)ɚ]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • homophone: inner (some dialects)

1

prefix

Meaning 1

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interblog
  • intercausal
  • interexperiential

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prefix

Meaning 2

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

A spatial position which is in between two (or more) of the kind of landmark indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interangular
  • interbarb
  • interbronchial

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prefix

Meaning 3

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

A social position which is in between two (or more) of the kind of social group indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interarmy
  • interobserver
  • interparental

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

prefix

Meaning 4

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

A temporal position which is in between two (or more) of the kind of event indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlitter
  • intermonth
  • interoccurrence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

prefix

Meaning 5

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

A temporal position which is in between two successive events of the kind indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interday
  • interdiastolic
  • interpausal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

prefix

Meaning 6

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

A spatial position which is in between two adjacent landmarks of the kind indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlexical
  • intercarinal
  • intercarbon

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

prefix

Meaning 7

A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

A spatial position between the root landmark and an unspecified reference point.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interhippocampal
  • intermercurial
  • interelectrolyte

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

prefix

Meaning 8

Mutually: the root verb or property has a symmetric and bidirectional relationship between the relevant parties.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlegible
  • interattraction
  • intercalibrate

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

prefix

Meaning 9

Combining together: the root verb is done together, generally uniting or merging multiple objects.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interfuse
  • interknit
  • interreact

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

prefix

Meaning 10

Hybrid: combining two or more of the root together to produce a hybrid.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interculture
  • interhalogen
  • interprime

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

prefix

Meaning 11

Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intershine
  • interdistinguish
  • interreflection

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

prefix

Meaning 12

Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Interspatially: the root verb is done between or among spatial entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interfriction
  • interflow
  • intermesh
  • interlay

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

prefix

Meaning 13

Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Intersocially: the root verb is done between or among social entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interact
  • intermarry

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

prefix

Meaning 14

Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Intermittently: the root verb is done between or among temporal entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intermention
  • interpoint
  • interadditive

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

prefix

Meaning 15

Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.

Transferable: the root entity is or can be transferred between multiple locales.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interavailable
  • intermural

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

prefix

Meaning 16

Alternating: a sequence of alternating kinds of the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlaminate
  • interplant
  • interbed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

prefix

Meaning 17

Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intercellular
  • interneuron
  • internetwork

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

prefix

Meaning 18

Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.

Abutment: to connect multiple spatial regions of the type indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interoceanic
  • intersesamoidian
  • interregional

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

prefix

Meaning 19

Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.

Cooperating: to connect multiple social entities of the type indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlaboratory
  • interservice
  • interliner

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

20

prefix

Meaning 20

Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.

Overlapping: the overlap of multiple kinds of the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interartistic
  • intercausative
  • intersectional

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

21

prefix

Meaning 21

Involving multiple of the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interdisciplinary
  • intermodal
  • intergenetic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

22

prefix

Meaning 22

Involving multiple of the root.

Spanning across multiple time periods indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intergenerational
  • intersecular

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

23

prefix

Meaning 23

Involving multiple of the root.

Universal or independent of the root social groups or time periods.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intermicronational
  • international
  • intercurrent

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

24

prefix

Meaning 24

Involving multiple of the root.

Communal: a kind of the root which is shared among people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlanguage
  • interexperience
  • interownership

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

25

prefix

Meaning 25

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intergenotype
  • interform
  • intermedia

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

26

prefix

Meaning 26

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

Midsection: an object which is positioned spatially between multiple of the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interbasin
  • interfascicle
  • intershell

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

27

prefix

Meaning 27

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

Connector: an object of the type of the root has a spatial position which is in between.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interjoist
  • interleaf
  • interarea

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

28

prefix

Meaning 28

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

An intermediator or middleman between multiple social entities. The root indicates the kind of intermediator rather than the social entities.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intermediatrix
  • intermessenger
  • intergroup

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

29

prefix

Meaning 29

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

Inserting between multiple entities of the kind indicated by the root.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • internym
  • interdental
  • interlinear

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

30

prefix

Meaning 30

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

Interlude: a time period or event which is intermediate between other time periods. The root indicates what the intermediate event is and not the surrounding periods.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interpause
  • interact
  • intercadence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

31

prefix

Meaning 31

Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.

Interval: an event or time period which is intermediate between time periods of the type indicated by the root. Here the surrounding time periods are indicated by the prefix and not the intervening event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • interlocution
  • interact
  • intercycle

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

32

prefix

Meaning 32

Internet: relating to the internet or computer networking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, technology

Examples

  • internetted
  • interblag

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

33

prefix

Meaning 33

Intersex: relating to intersex people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • intersexual
  • interphobia
  • intergender

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Indo-European *h1entér Proto-Italic *n̥ter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Borrowed from Latin inter- (“between, amid”), a form of prepositional inter (“between”).

Across languages

Translations

61 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: միջ- (miǰ-) — among, between
  • Breton: etre- — among, between
  • Bulgarian: между- (meždu-) — among, between
  • Bulgarian: интер- (inter-) — among, between
  • Catalan: inter- — among, between
  • Czech: mezi- — among, between
  • Danish: inter- — among, between
  • Danish: mellem — among, between
  • Dutch: inter- — among, between
  • Esperanto: inter- — among, between
  • Finnish: -välinen — among, between
  • Finnish: inter- — among, between
  • French: entre- — among, between
  • French: inter- — among, between
  • Old French: entre- — among, between
  • West-Frisian: ynter- — among, between
  • Galician: inter- — among, between
  • Georgian: -შორისი (-šorisi) — among, between
  • Georgian: -შორისო (-šoriso) — among, between
  • German: inter- — among, between
  • German: durch- — among, between
  • German: unter- — among, between
  • German: ver- — among, between
  • German: zwischen- — among, between
  • Greek: δια- (dia-) — among, between
  • Hindi: अंतर- (antar) — among, between
  • Ido: inter- — among, between
  • Indonesian: antar- — among, between
  • Indonesian: inter- — among, between
  • Irish: idir- — among, between
  • Italian: inter- — among, between
  • Khmer: អន្តរ- (an ta rak) — among, between
  • Komi-Zyrian: -костса (-kostsa) — among, between
  • Korean: 간- (gan-) — among, between
  • Northern Kurdish: nav- — among, between
  • Northern Kurdish: enter- — among, between
  • Macedonian: меѓу- (meǵu-) — among, between
  • Macedonian: интер- (inter-) — among, between
  • Malay: antara- — among, between
  • Malay: inter- — among, between
  • Manx: eddyr- — among, between
  • Norman: întèr- — among, between
  • Norwegian Bokmål: inter- — among, between
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: inter- — among, between
  • Old English: betwēon- — among, between
  • Old English: betwux- — among, between
  • Old English: middel- — among, between
  • Polish: między- — among, between
  • Polish: inter- — among, between
  • Portuguese: entre- — among, between
  • Portuguese: inter- — among, between
  • Russian: интер- (intɛr-) — among, between
  • Russian: между- (meždu-) — among, between
  • Russian: меж(ъ)- — among, between
  • Sanskrit: अन्तर् (antar) — among, between
  • Scottish Gaelic: eadar- — among, between
  • Spanish: inter- — among, between
  • Udmurt: -куспо (-kuspo) — among, between
  • Ukrainian: між- (miž-) — among, between
  • Volapük: bevü- — among, between
  • Welsh: rhyng- — among, between