What does interlinked mean?
Interlinked means linked or connected with one another, especially when the connection is part of a larger network or system. The word emphasizes mutual relationships: several people, organizations, objects, or ideas may be interlinked so that they influence, support, or depend on one another. It is common in descriptions of systems, networks, infrastructures, organizations, and scientific or social relationships. In everyday conversation, “connected” or “linked” may sound more natural, while “interlinked” is often chosen for a slightly more formal or technical tone. The term can also suggest that the connections are complex and difficult to separate, as in descriptions of intertwined environmental, economic, or technological systems.
adjectiveLinked or connected with one another, often forming a network or system of mutual relationships.
- Linked or connected with one another, especially in a network or system of mutual relationships.
"The team developed a set of interlinked strategies to address the problem."
"The two agencies share interlinked databases that make it easier to coordinate their work."
"The novel explores how individual identities are interlinked with family and community history."
Interlinked systems are stronger together: a change in one part can ripple through the others.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interlinked come from?
The word was formed in English by combining the prefix inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” with link, a word of Germanic origin meaning to connect or join. The same elements appear in related English words such as linkage and unlink. The prefix intensifies the idea of connection by indicating that multiple things are joined with one another.
Related word forms
How interlinked is actually used
The word is commonly used in technical, academic, and organizational contexts to describe systems, networks, structures, or relationships whose parts depend on or affect one another. It is generally more formal and specific than simply “linked.”