in-house

UK: ɪn ˈhaʊs | US: ɪn ˈhaʊs

Definition

  1. adj. existing, occurring, or produced within an organization or company (rather than externally)

  2. adv. within an organization or company

Structure
in <inside>house <building/organization>
Etymology

The term "in-house" combines the preposition "in" (Old English "in," meaning "inside") with "house" (Old English "hūs," meaning "dwelling" or "structure"). Over time, "house" expanded metaphorically to refer to organizations or businesses (e.g., "publishing house"). By the mid-20th century, "in-house" emerged in corporate contexts to describe activities or resources managed internally, contrasting with outsourced or external solutions. The logic is straightforward: "inside the organization" → "internal."

Examples

  1. The company prefers in-house training for its employees.

  2. All design work is done in-house to maintain quality control.

  3. They developed an in-house software solution to cut costs.

  4. The legal team handles contracts in-house rather than hiring external firms.

  5. In-house production allows for faster turnaround times.