How the Term "Internet" Is Used
An internet is a logical collection of networks supported by gateways, routers, bridges, hosts, and various layers of protocols that permit the network to function as a large, virtual network.
The term internet is used as a generic term for a TCP/IP network and should not be confused with the Internet (note capital I), which consists of large national backbone networks (such as MILNET, NSFNet, and CREN) and myriad regional and local campus networks all over the world.