intranet

intranet — noun

1. a private computer network used inside a company or organization, which allows e

1.nounB2
Definition

a private computer network used inside a company or organization, which allows employees to share files, send messages, and access internal websites using internet technology.

Example

The updated safety rules are posted on the company intranet for all staff to view.

collocation: company intranet

Leila uploaded the training videos to the intranet so new hires could watch them.

collocation: upload to the intranet

Common collocations
  • access the intranet
  • company intranet
  • corporate intranet
  • intranet site
  • intranet page
  • on the intranet
  • post on the intranet
Synonyms
  • internal network

    broader term; any private network within an organization, not necessarily using web-based technology

  • corporate network

    emphasizes the business context; can include non-web resources

Antonyms
  • internet

    the public worldwide computer network accessible to anyone

  • extranet

    a private network that extends access to selected external users such as clients or partners

Grammar Patterns

the company/corporate/school intranet

Usage Note

Often used with 'company', 'corporate', or 'school' as a modifier ('company intranet'). Distinguish from 'internet' (the public worldwide network) and 'extranet' (a private network that allows limited access to external business partners).

Common Mistakes

I found the document on the internet.' (when meaning the internal company network).
I found the document on the company intranet.
'internet' refers to the public network everyone can use; 'intranet' is a private network only accessible inside an organization.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms refer to private computer resources within an organization, but they differ in scope and technology. 'Internal network' is the broadest term — it describes any connected computers inside a company without specifying the technology used. 'Corporate network' is similar but strongly implies a business setting and often includes telephone systems and legacy hardware. 'Intranet' is narrower: it specifically means a network that uses internet technology (web browsers, HTTP, HTML) for internal communication and information sharing. 'LAN' (local area network) refers to the physical cabling and wireless infrastructure that connects computers in one location; an intranet runs on top of a LAN. For example: 'The IT team set up a LAN in the new office building, and then installed an intranet so staff could access the company handbook through their browsers.'

internal networkcorporate networkLAN

Common collocations

Nouns

  • company intranet
  • corporate intranet
  • school intranet
  • intranet site
  • intranet portal

Phrases

  • access the intranet
  • log into the intranet
  • post on the intranet

Prepositions

  • on the intranet
  • through the intranet
  • via the intranet

Etymology

LatinEnglish

A blend of the prefix 'intra-' ('within' or 'inside', from Latin intra) and 'net' (short for 'network'). The word was coined in the mid-1990s by analogy with 'internet' (inter- + net) to describe organizations that set up internal networks using the same web-based tools — browsers, hyperlinks, email — as the public internet. The prefix 'intra-' emphasizes that access is restricted to people within the organization, contrasting with 'inter-' (between) in 'internet', which connects networks across the globe.