intranet

American  

[in-truh-net] / ˈɪn trəˌnɛt /

noun

Digital Technology.

1. a computer network with restricted access, as within a company, that uses software and protocols developed for the internet.

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intranet British  

/ ˈɪntrəˌnɛt /

noun

1. computing an internal network that makes use of internet technology

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intranet Scientific  

/ ĭn′trə-nĕt′ /

1. A privately maintained computer network that only authorized persons can access. Many corporations and institutions, for example, communicate with employees or members through the use of a private intranet.

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Etymology

Origin of intranet

First recorded in 1990–95; intra- ( def. ) + (inter)net ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does intranet compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• internet vs. intranet

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, according to Netblocks the web "restrictions have left most Iranians isolated from the global network known as the internet, with only a domestic digital service, or intranet, now available".

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

A 2023 Pentagon memo forbids staffers from using any unclassified communication network “to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information,” since there’s already a specialized Defense intranet system for classified info.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2025

He prefers his own “escalatory approach”, working through a system via an administrator’s access and searching for a “confluence”, a collection of information shared in one place, such as a workplace intranet.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2024

North Korea has a similar intranet, called Kwangmyong, that enables the government to control access, censor content, and surveil users.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 11, 2023

IOI’s intranet was a high-security, standalone network with no direct connections to the OASIS.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline