internship

internship — noun

1. A fixed-term position that gives career beginners practical skills in their chos

1.nounB1
Definition

A fixed-term position that gives career beginners practical skills in their chosen field through temporary work within a professional environment.

Example

Christopher applied for a summer internship at an advertising agency in Tokyo.

summer internship at [organization]

Stephanie did a six-month internship in engineering and later received a full-time job offer.

completed a [duration] internship

Common collocations
  • summer internship
  • paid internship
  • unpaid internship
  • internship at/with [company]
  • apply for an internship
  • offer an internship
  • complete an internship
  • internship program
Synonyms
  • placement

    More common in British English for school or university work experience.

  • traineeship

    Often longer and more structured than an internship, sometimes leading to a permanent job.

  • apprenticeship

    Traditionally focused on skilled trades; longer and more formal than an internship.

Grammar Patterns

internship at/with [company]

do/complete/apply for an internship

[duration] internship

Usage Note

In British English, 'work placement' is often used instead of 'internship' for short-term student positions outside of medicine. 'Internship' is more common in US and international business contexts.

Common Mistakes

I got an intern at Google.
I got an internship at Google.
'intern' is a person who works; 'internship' is the position or period of work.
I did internship last summer.
I did an internship last summer.
'internship' is a countable noun and needs a determiner in singular form.

2. The period of supervised practical training that a newly qualified doctor works

2.nounB2
Definition

The period of supervised practical training that a newly qualified doctor works through in a hospital setting before gaining a full medical license.

Example

Dr. Eitan began his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital right after medical school.

internship at [hospital]

During her internship, Sofia worked eighteen-hour shifts in the emergency room.

possessive her internship

Common collocations
  • one-year internship
  • medical internship
  • internship year
  • internship program
  • internship at [hospital]
  • complete an internship
Synonyms
  • residency

    Refers to the longer, more advanced training period after the internship year; in some countries 'internship' and 'residency' are separate stages.

  • foundation training

    The UK equivalent term for the early postgraduate training of doctors.

Grammar Patterns

internship at [hospital]

do/complete an internship

Usage Note

This sense is most common in American English. In the UK and many Commonwealth countries, the equivalent period is called the 'foundation year' or 'preregistration training.'

Common Mistakes

She finished her intern at the hospital.
She finished her internship at the hospital.
'intern' is the person, not the position.

Word family

  • intern
    nounB1
  • intern
    verbB2
  • internist
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe periods of practical work experience, but they differ in duration, structure, and regional use. 'Internship' is the most general term, common in American and international business contexts — typically a short-term (often summer) position for students or recent graduates. 'Placement' is the preferred term in British English for university-linked work experience, especially in professional fields like teaching, social work, or business. 'Apprenticeship' refers to a longer, formal training program in a skilled trade (e.g., electrician, carpenter) where the trainee earns a wage while learning under a qualified mentor. 'Traineeship' sits between an internship and an apprenticeship — often a structured, paid program lasting several months to two years, with clear learning goals and potential for a permanent job. For example: 'Jude did a three-month marketing internship at a tech startup,' but 'Adisa began a four-year electrician apprenticeship with a local contractor.'

internship ↗placement ↗apprenticeship ↗traineeship

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • do an internship
  • complete an internship
  • apply for an internship
  • offer an internship
  • internship program
  • internship position

Prepositions

  • at [hospital/company]
  • with [company]
  • in [department/field]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'internship' comes from 'intern' (meaning a trainee or resident doctor) plus the suffix '-ship', which indicates a state, condition, or position. 'Intern' entered English in the 1800s from French 'interne' ('internal'), borrowed from Latin 'internus' ('inward'). The medical sense — a doctor living inside the hospital during training — came first. By the mid-1900s, the word broadened to cover short-term training positions in many professions.