built-in: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to slightly formal; common in technical, commercial, and everyday descriptive contexts.
Quick answer
What does “built-in” mean?
Incorporated as part of the original structure or design.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Incorporated as part of the original structure or design; not added later as a separate component.
An inherent, inseparable, or permanent feature; something that is integral to the nature or function of an object, system, or person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically in meaning, spelling (hyphenated), and application. No significant divergence.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, suggesting practicality, integration, and standard features.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English across all registers.
Grammar
How to Use “built-in” in a Sentence
be + built-in + in/into/to N (The shelves are built-in to the wall)have/get + N + with + built-in (We got a car with built-in satnav)N + with + built-in + N (a laptop with a built-in camera)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “built-in” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They built the shelves in to the alcove.
- The architect designed it so the seating could be built in.
American English
- We built the bookcases into the wall.
- The contractor will build the appliances in.
adverb
British English
- The unit is designed to fit built-in.
American English
- The speakers come ready to install built-in.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to standard features of a product or inherent costs/benefits in a system (e.g., 'The software has built-in analytics').
Academic
Used to describe inherent properties, biases, or mechanisms within a theory, model, or system (e.g., 'The methodology has a built-in safeguard against bias').
Everyday
Commonly describes furniture, appliances, and tech features (e.g., 'Our new kitchen has built-in lighting').
Technical
Prevalent in computing, engineering, and product design for components that are part of the core architecture (e.g., 'The motherboard's built-in graphics processor').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “built-in”
- Misspelling as one word ('builtin') or two words without a hyphen ('built in' when used attributively).
- Using it predicatively without a hyphen when it should be hyphenated (correct: 'The feature is built-in.').
- Overusing for temporary or easily removable additions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as an attributive adjective (before a noun) or as a noun, it is hyphenated. When used predicatively (after a verb like 'is'), the hyphen is sometimes used but can be omitted in less formal writing.
They are synonyms, but 'built-in' is far more common, especially for physical objects. 'Inbuilt' is slightly less common and can sound more formal or abstract, often used for qualities (e.g., 'an inbuilt tendency').
Yes, it is commonly used for abstract features like advantages, biases, safeguards, or mechanisms within systems, theories, or plans.
No. The verb is the phrasal verb 'to build in'. The past participle of this phrasal verb forms the adjective 'built-in' (e.g., 'We will build in a safety feature' -> 'It is a built-in safety feature').
Incorporated as part of the original structure or design.
Built-in is usually neutral to slightly formal; common in technical, commercial, and everyday descriptive contexts. in register.
Built-in: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪlt ˈɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪlt ˈɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “built-in obsolescence”
- “a built-in advantage”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a house being BUILT, and the wardrobe is already IN the wall as part of the construction – it's BUILT-IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEATURES ARE PARTS OF A STRUCTURE / INHERENT QUALITIES ARE PHYSICAL COMPONENTS.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'built-in' used correctly?