variants or internet
: an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world
usually used with the except when being used attributively
doing research on the Internet
an Internet search

Note: In U.S. publications, the capitalized form Internet continues to be more common than internet, although the lowercase form is rapidly gaining more widespread use. In British publications, internet is now the more common form.

compare world wide web

Examples of Internet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Monument Valley was a filming location for 101 movies, mostly Westerns, by the Internet Movie Database's count. Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 15 July 2025 Fiber optic cable Internet service became available at my home months ago. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025 In no case does AT&T guarantee particular minimum speeds for AT&T Internet Air services. Kara McGinley, USA Today, 24 June 2025 In the 1990s, when the internet was still in its infancy, Congress passed the Internet Tax Freedom Act, temporarily barring state and local taxes on online activity. Kristen Waggoner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Internet

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Internet was in 1986

Cite this Entry

“Internet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Internet. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

Internet

noun
: a communications system that connects computers and computer networks all over the world

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