Intrinsic describes qualities or properties that belong to something inherently, rather than being added from outside. It refers to essential, built-in aspects that are fundamental to the nature of a thing. Used in contexts ranging from biology and philosophy to design and motivation, it contrasts with extrinsic factors. The term emphasizes internal origin and necessity rather than external influence.
"The intrinsic value of a diamond is its chemical structure, not its market price."
"Her intrinsic motivation comes from a genuine interest in the work, not rewards."
"The organism’s intrinsic respiration rate is regulated by its biology, independent of environment."
"Mathematicians study intrinsic properties of shapes that remain unchanged under transformations."
Intrinsic comes from Latin intrinsecus, meaning 'on the inside' or 'within.' The prefix intra- means 'within,' while secus/secus relates to ‘set or placed.’ The term evolved through Middle French intrinseque and directly into English by the 16th century to describe properties inherent to a thing, not dependent on context. The modern sense—benefiting from essential, internal nature rather than external conditions—developed as scholars and scientists contrasted intrinsic properties with extrinsic ones. Early usage often appeared in philosophy and natural science to distinguish necessary attributes from contingent ones. The Latin root intrinsecus first appears in classical texts to denote inwardness or essential quality, and by the Renaissance it was adopted into scientific discourse to articulate properties that do not vary with circumstance. First known English uses surface in the 1600s, aligning with discussions of essential characteristics in mathematics, biology, and moral philosophy, before becoming common in everyday technical and design language today.
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Words that rhyme with "Intrinsic"
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Intrinsic is pronounced /ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪk/ in US and /ɪnˈtrɪn.sɪk/ in many UK accents; the primary stress is on the second syllable, “TRIN.” Start with a short, lax /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a clear /ˈtrɪn/ cluster, and end with /zɪk/ in many US pronunciations or /sɪk/ in some UK variants. Tip: keep the /tr/ together, and avoid inserting an extra syllable between /n/ and /z/ or /s/.”,
Common errors include: misplacing stress by saying in-TREN-sik (shifting stress to the first syllable); softening the /t/ into a d-like sound; and mispronouncing the final -sic as -sik with a chillier vowel. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable: in-TRIN-zik (US) or in-TRIN-sik (UK), and keeping the /z/ or /s/ before the final /ɪk/ sound crisp. Practice the sequence /ɪn/ + /ˈtrɪn/ + /zɪk/ to lock the rhythm.
US tends to use /ɪnˈtrɪn.zɪk/ with a true /z/ before -ɪk and a slightly rhotic-feel in connected speech. UK often uses /ɪnˈtrɪn.sɪk/ with a clearer ending and less liaison between the /n/ and the final consonant; AU follows similarly to UK, but may have a slightly broader vowel in the first syllable and a more clipped final syllable in casual speech. Focus on the /ˈtrɪn/ nucleus and keep final /z/ or /s/ distinct before /ɪk/.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster at the onset /tr/ immediately after a short vowel, plus a tense final /-ɪk/ syllable with a voiced /z/ or voiceless /s/ before it. The transition from /n/ to /z/ or /s/ creates a tricky boundary that many speakers blur. Mastery comes from isolating the three segments: /ɪn/ + /ˈtrɪn/ + /zɪk/ (or /sɪk/), then practicing rapid, fluid connection.
Intrinsic combines a stressed stressed middle with an adjacent /n/ before a sibilant, which can tempt listeners to misplace the /t/ or drop the /z/ in casual speech. The unique feature is the shift from an /n/ to a /z/ (or /s/) in the coda of a stressed syllable, making it essential to keep the middle /n/ firm and the final consonant crisp and shorter. IPA references help anchor your articulation.
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