interpersonal
in-ter-PUR-suh-nuhl
/ˌɪn.təˈpɜː.sən.əl/
Relating to relationships or communication between people.
Refers specifically to the dynamics, skills, and chemistry of face-to-face or direct human interaction.
The story behind the word. Interpersonal combines the Latin prefix inter- (meaning 'between' or 'among') with personal (derived from persona, the clay mask worn by actors in ancient Roman theater to project their voice). Thus, interpersonal literally refers to what happens 'between the masks' we wear when we interact with one another.
Word relationships
- social: Social relates broadly to society or communities, while interpersonal focuses specifically on the direct, one-on-one connections and communication between individuals.
- impersonal: Impersonal describes something lacking human emotion, warmth, or individual connection.
Commonly confused with
- intrapersonal: Intrapersonal refers to things occurring within an individual's own mind, whereas interpersonal refers to relations between different people.
Word family
- interpersonally (adverb): In a way that relates to relationships or communication between people.
Collocations
- interpersonal skills
- interpersonal relationships
- interpersonal conflict
- interpersonal dynamics
Example sentences
- "Poor interpersonal communication is the leading cause of project delays in cross-functional teams." A study on workplace productivity and team dynamics.
Memory hook
Think of 'inter-' as an international bridge, but instead of connecting countries, it connects 'persons' (inter-personal). Bridges built between people.
When not to use
Do not use when discussing internal mental states (that's intrapersonal) or purely technical, non-human systems.
Fun facts
- In job postings, 'interpersonal skills' is one of the most frequently requested soft skills, often valued just as highly as technical expertise.
Related words
Explore more words
Interact, rapport, diplomatic, networking, intimacy, liaison
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