Internet

noun

In·​ter·​net ˈin-tər-ˌnet 

variants or internet

: an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world

—used with the except when being used attributively

doing research on the Internet

an Internet search

Note: In U.S. publications, the capitalized form Internet continues to be more common than internet, although the lowercase form is rapidly gaining more widespread use. In British publications, internet is now the more common form.

compare world wide web

Examples of Internet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Enter Bruno Mars doubling down on some of R&B’s most vocally and physically intensive styles in the face of an era that all but formally rejected classic entertainers in favor of Internet mystique. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2024

Such dunks, as Internet slang would put it, are primed to be shared gleefully beyond Truth Social, a performance directed at the whole of social media. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2024

Losses from investment scams soared 38% to a new record high in 2023, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report. —Kaan Oguz, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2024

Trivia After the United Kingdom, which country tops the list by number for total fraud complaints reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)? —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Internet

• Internet of Things
• Internet service provider
• the Internet
• Voice over Internet Protocol

Kids Definition

Internet

noun

In·​ter·​net ˈint-ər-ˌnet 

: a communications system that connects computers and computer networks all over the world