Internally

Internally is an adverb describing something occurring or existing inside a person, place, thing, or system, as opposed to externally. It can mark spatial inside, internal states, or the inner aspects of a process or organization. The term is used across many fields to indicate inwardness or inner workings rather than outward appearances.

Etymology: Internally comes from Latin interior, meaning inner, via Old French intérieur and Middle English adoption. The sense centers on inside or within a boundary.

Usage: In physical space, internally refers to what lies inside a boundary or enclosure—for example, the internal temperature of a fruit or the pressure monitored inside a vessel. In biology and medicine, internal denotes structures inside the body, such as internal organs, internal respiration, or internal medicine, a field focusing on adult medical conditions. In technology and computing, data or processes described as internal to a program or system are not exposed to external interfaces. In engineering, an internal combustion engine burns fuel inside the engine cylinders. In organizational contexts, internal affairs concern matters within an organization, and internal policies guide operations.

See also: The term is related to internal vs external distinctions and to phrases such as internalization, internalize, and internalizing, which describe processes of adopting or recognizing inner aspects, as well as to adjacent terms like external and externalize.