interview
IN-ter-vyoo
/ˈɪntərvjuː/
A formal meeting in which one or more persons question, consult, or evaluate another person.
While it can be a casual chat, in business, it implies a structured evaluation with specific goals.
The story behind the word. From the French 'entrevoir', meaning 'to see each other' or 'to have a glimpse of'. It suggests a mutual seeing—the employer sees the candidate, and the candidate sees the company.
Word relationships
- consultation: A consultation is more about seeking advice than evaluating a person.
- interrogation: An interrogation is a forceful or aggressive questioning, usually by police.
Commonly confused with
- meeting: A meeting is for collaboration; an interview is for evaluation.
Word family
- interviewer (noun): The person asking the questions.
- interviewee (noun): The person answering the questions.
Collocations
- conduct an interview
- job interview
- panel interview
Example sentences
- "I have a second-round interview with the CEO tomorrow morning." Job Application
- ""In an exclusive interview, the former director revealed the reasons for his sudden resignation."" Journalism
Memory hook
Think of 'inter-' (between) and 'view' (sight). It's a 'viewing between' two people. Interview = See between.
When not to use
Avoid using it for a casual meeting between friends; it requires an element of formal inquiry.
Fun facts
- The first recorded use of 'interview' in the sense of a journalist meeting a famous person wasn't until the 1860s.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.