What does interpersonal mean?
Interpersonal is an adjective describing relationships, communication, or interactions between people. It is especially common in discussions of interpersonal communication, interpersonal skills, and interpersonal relations. The word often implies qualities that matter in social or professional settings, such as empathy, listening, cooperation, awareness of others' feelings, and the ability to resolve conflict constructively. “Interpersonal” should not be confused with “intrapersonal,” which concerns a person's inner life and self-awareness, or with “personal,” which can mean private or individually significant. Although the word is widely used in formal English in Britain and the United States, it can sound somewhat institutional or technical in casual speech. Even so, it remains useful because it gives a precise name to the distinctive social abilities involved in relating successfully to other people. The adjective can also be used adverbially as “interpersonally,” as in a sentence describing how someone interacts constructively with colleagues.
adjectiveRelating to, involving, or occurring between people. It is especially used for communication, relationships, and the skills needed to interact effectively with others.
- Relating to or occurring between people, especially their communication, relationships, or interaction.
- Concerned with a person's ability to relate to and interact effectively with others.
"Her calm manner and attentive listening made her exceptional at interpersonal communication."
"The course develops interpersonal confidence as well as academic knowledge."
"Technology can support interpersonal connection, but it cannot entirely replace the value of meeting face to face."
The word is almost a picture: inter- means “between,” and personal means “of a person,” so interpersonal describes what happens from one person to another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interpersonal come from?
Interpersonal combines the Latin-derived prefix inter-, meaning “between,” with personal, which comes from Latin personalis, meaning “of or relating to a person.” The compound was established in English during the 19th century as writers distinguished between matters occurring among people and those concerning an individual alone. The personal element belongs to the same Latin family as person, personality, and personify.
Related word forms
How interpersonal is actually used
Common in formal and professional contexts, particularly education, psychology, management, and communication. In everyday conversation, phrases such as “between people” or “getting along with others” may sound more natural.
Easily confused with interpersonal
Interpersonal concerns relationships and interactions between people, whereas intrapersonal concerns a person's inner thoughts, feelings, and self-awareness.
Personal means relating to an individual person or something private and individual, while interpersonal specifically means relating to interactions between people.