interpersonal

Etymology

It is formed from English inter- (“between”) + personal.^[2][3][4][5] Etymonline analyses it as inter- with person and the suffix -al.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Between persons: the OED's first record is an isolated use of 1842, in the published journal of the diarist Fox.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

After the isolated 1842 use, Etymonline dates the word's regular use from 1911.^[6] It was taken up as a term of psychology by Sullivan (1892–1949), who used it of the behaviour of people towards each other in an encounter;^[2][6] Etymonline dates his use to 1938.^[6] Dictionary.com dates the word to 1835–45.^[5] It now commonly describes relationships, communication and skills between people.^[3][7]

Timeline

• 1842 – between persons, in an isolated use.^[2][4]
• 1911 – regular use begins, according to Etymonline.^[6]
• 1938 – a term of psychology, in Sullivan's work.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Existing or taking place between people: interpersonal communication.^[4][7][3]
2. Relating to or involving personal and social relationships: Good interpersonal skills helped her lead the team.^[4][7]

Word family

• interpersonally

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
6. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins