Phrase guide

interlibrary loan

noun · 1 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A loan of an item (such as a book, article, or sound recording) between two library systems or similar institutions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: library science

Examples

  • Only one university in the country had the book they needed but they were able to get it sent to their local library via interlibrary loan.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 館際互借 /馆际互借 (guǎnjì hùjiè) — loan of an item between two library systems
  • Greek: διαδανεισμός (diadaneismós) — loan of an item between two library systems
  • Indonesian: peminjaman antar perpustakaan — loan of an item between two library systems
  • Swedish: fjärrlån — loan of an item between two library systems