interstitial

adjective

in·​ter·​sti·​tial ˌin-tər-ˈsti-shəl How to pronounce interstitial (audio)
1
: occurring in or being an interval or intervening space or segment : of, relating to, or forming an interstice
an interstitial space
… the site has been running interstitial ads, which consist of a full page of advertising between editorial pages, for a little more than a year.Carl Sullivan
2
a
: situated within but not restricted to or characteristic of a particular organ or tissue
used especially of fibrous tissue
b
: affecting the interstitial tissues of an organ or part
interstitial cystitis
3
: being or relating to a crystalline compound in which usually small atoms or ions of a nonmetal occupy holes between the larger metal atoms or ions in the crystal lattice
interstitially adverb

Examples of interstitial 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.
Separated by interstitial shots of Cluj’s ahistorical new architecture, these long and static confessional scenes are spiked with Jude’s recognizably mordant wit, their dialogue timely enough to distract from the feeling of shooting fish in a barrel. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025 But sadness was mostly best left to the interstitial montages about the micro-communities as well as material things that were lost in the fires. Chris Willman, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025 Medications, genetics, and autoimmune diseases like sarcoidosis or rheumatoid arthritis can all cause interstitial lung disease. Mark Gurarie, Health, 14 Feb. 2025 The performance was emceed by Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, setting up the songs and providing interstitial commentary. Time Staff, TIME, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interstitial

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of interstitial was in 1646

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interstitial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interstitial. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

interstitial

adjective
in·​ter·​sti·​tial ˌint-ər-ˈstish-əl How to pronounce interstitial (audio)
: relating to or located in the interstices
interstitially adverb

Medical Definition

interstitial

adjective
in·​ter·​sti·​tial ˌint-ər-ˈstish-əl How to pronounce interstitial (audio)
1
: situated within but not restricted to or characteristic of a particular organ or tissue
used especially of fibrous tissue
2
: affecting the interstitial tissues of an organ or part
interstitial hepatitis
3
: occurring in the part of a fallopian tube in the wall of the uterus
interstitial pregnancy
interstitially adverb
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