Meaning & use
internship
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A temporary job that gives practical experience, often for students or new graduates.
Grammar: Countable; you can say an internship or internships. Often followed by at or with a company.
Patterns
- do an internship
- an internship at a company
- a summer internship
She did a summer internship at a marketing firm.
The internship lasted three months and was unpaid.
Many students apply for internships to gain work experience.
nouncountablemedical
The period of supervised practical training for a doctor in a hospital.
Grammar: Countable; often used in medical contexts, e.g. during her internship.
Patterns
- a medical internship
- during someone's internship
He completed his internship in a busy city hospital.
During her internship, she learned to handle emergency cases.
Word forms
| plural | internships |
|---|
Common combinations
- summer internship
- He found a summer internship at a tech startup.
- paid internship
- The company offers a paid internship in its finance department.
- apply for an internship
- You should apply for an internship before you graduate.
- complete an internship
- All students must complete an internship to earn the degree.
Synonyms and how they differ
- placement
- Placement is common in British English for a period of work experience as part of a course.
- traineeship
- A traineeship is usually a structured training program, often paid, and may lead to a permanent job.
Word family
Commonly confused: internship or apprenticeship?
internship vs apprenticeship
An apprenticeship combines paid work with study, often in a trade, while an internship is usually short-term and focused on gaining experience.
Practice
She ___ an internship at a law firm last summer.
Choose one answer.
In this context, 'did an internship' is the most natural collocation. 'Made' is not used, 'took' is possible but less common, and 'got' would mean she obtained it, not that she completed it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “internship”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.