Do you want to learn the abbreviation for the word international? We’ll discuss that and everything else about the word international—its meanings, synonyms, and origin. We’ll also see a few examples of how to use the word in context. Let’s begin.
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There are a few ways to abbreviate the word international. The common abbreviations are listed below:
Int.
Intl.
Int’l.
Such abbreviations commonly appear in headlines, shorthand notes, and titles. They may be written with all capitals and without punctuation, as well.
What Is the Meaning of the Word?
International refers to an existing relationship between countries. It can describe anything that occurs or exists between two or more countries.
According to Wikipedia, international means between nations. It’s used to refer to music, sports, politics, transportation, and more.
For example:
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international organization that brings together over 100 member states. Examples of countries under the ISO include Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
International trade refers to countries doing business together.
For example:
The international trade between the United States and Canada is expected to grow in the first quarter.
Here are some additional examples of ways that the word international can be used.
An international dispute arose in regards to the border between the two countries.
The United Arab Emirates established international ties with the country in order to foster peace and growth.
The United Kingdom has the largest number of international schools, but another country has the largest number of international journals.
I traveled from coast to coast, parallel with the international border between Canada and the United States.
An international treaty signaled the end of World War II. It also led to the formation of the United Nations.
International observers and the European Union were called in to assess the election in the democratic republic and share their findings with the international community.
The Definition of the Word
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, international describes something, “involving more than one country.” You could use the word to modify a noun like team, reputation, pact, football, leader, etc.
It’s common to see the word used to describe a sporting event involving many countries. The phrase “international community” may refer to foreign nationals residing inside a country or to a broad group consisting of people and governments around the world.
Synonyms for International
foreign
global
universal
cosmopolitan
world
all-embracing
ecumenical
intercontinental
Examples of the Word in Context
“The International Ski Federation banned three cross-country skiers and a coach on Monday in a doping case resulting from police raids at last year’s world championships in Austria.” —ESPN
“The UN Charter, in its Preamble, set an objective: ‘to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained.’” —The United Nations
“The final acts of the conference were the unanimous acceptance by the delegates of the principle of compulsory arbitration and the stating of a number of voeux (resolutions), the first of which was the recommendation that another conference be summoned in eight years, thus establishing the concept that the best way to handle international problems was through a series of successive conferences.” —Encyclopedia Britannica
“Nearly 20 international scholars will come together at the Stuckeman Family Building on Penn State’s University Park campus later this month to discuss how historians and scholars have processed Italy’s sustained importance for architecture and its history over the 20th century.” —Penn State News
Examples of the Abbreviation in Context
Intl. is a widely accepted abbreviation for the word international. However, it should not be confused with other similar abbreviations. For example, someone may use INTL to mean internal or “it’s never too late.”
These tickets are for int’l. travel.
There’s a Steel Manufacturing Int. factory just two blocks away.
Some of the best vehicles on the roads are intl. brands.
I was waiting for my friend near the int’l arrivals.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.