What does interning mean?
Interning has two quite different modern meanings. In its occupational sense, it refers to working as an intern while gaining practical experience, often as a student or recent graduate. For example, a person may spend several months interning at a law firm, hospital, or technology company. This use is usually temporary and connected with training, although some internships are paid and may lead to employment. In its historical and political sense, interning means detaining people, especially during war or political unrest, in circumstances that restrict their freedom. This sense is especially associated with the internment of enemy aliens and political prisoners, but the word does not by itself imply that confinement was legally justified. As a noun, interning can refer to either the process of serving as an intern or the practice of confinement. The term is less common as a noun than as the -ing form of the verb, and the two senses require context to avoid misunderstanding.
To serve as an intern, especially while receiving professional training; or to confine someone in a secure institution.
"She is interning with an independent newspaper."
The present participle and gerund forms are more common than the bare verb in descriptions of professional work.
The act or process of serving as an intern or of confining someone as an intern.
"The interning of political prisoners continued despite international criticism."
This noun use is relatively uncommon and can sound formal, historical, or institutional.
The plural is grammatically possible but rare, since the noun is normally used in the singular or in the fixed phrase “the interning of.”
"The report documented the internings of political prisoners."
One word can describe a promising career launch and the confinement of a political prisoner: both experiences are an interning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interning come from?
The word ultimately comes from Latin internare, meaning “to put within,” which was developed from internus, “internal” or “within.” The French verb interner, meaning to confine or detain, was borrowed into English as intern. The occupational sense arose later through the development of the noun intern, which originally referred to a trainee or apprentice. Interning continues the English use of the -ing form, preserving the distinction between professional training and confinement.
Related word forms
How interning is actually used
In contemporary usage, the form is most often the present participle or gerund of the verb. The noun use is comparatively uncommon and may sound formal or dated. When the detention sense is intended, the context should make the meaning clear.
Easily confused with interning
Interning means serving as an intern or confining someone, whereas interring means burying a body.