Original

//əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəl// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Very common ·Middle school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An object or other creation (e.g. narrative work) from which all later copies and variations are derived.

    "This manuscript is the original."

  2. 2
    an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made wordnet
  3. 3
    A person with a unique and interesting personality or creative talent.

    "I have a great mind to be in Print; but above all, I would fain be an Original, and that is a true Comical Thought: When all the Learned Men in the World are but Tranſlators, is it not a Pleaſant Jeſt, that you ſhould ſtrive to be an Original! You ſhould have obſerved your Time, and have come into the World with the Ancient Greeks for that purpoſe; for the Latines themſelves are but Copies."

  4. 4
    something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies wordnet
  5. 5
    An eccentric person. archaic

    "‘Are you an alienist?’ I interrupted. ‘Every doctor should be - a little,’ answered that original, imperturbably."

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  1. 6
    A newly designed garment released by a fashion designer as part of a collection.

    "Fashion Fair will give every section first hand knowledge of the latest originals and 1962-63's exciting trends."

  2. 7
    A ridgeling.
Adjective
  1. 1
    Relating to the origin or beginning; preceding all others. not-comparable

    "the original state of mankind;  the original laws of a country;  the original inventor of a process"

  2. 2
    First in a series of copies or versions. not-comparable

    "The original manuscript contained spelling errors which were fixed in later versions."

  3. 3
    Newly created. not-comparable

    "Tonight we will hear an original work by one of our best composers."

  4. 4
    Fresh, different. comparable

    "The paper contains a number of original ideas about color perception."

  5. 5
    Pioneering. not-comparable

    "Parker was one of the original bebop players."

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  1. 6
    Having a specified place or time as its origin. not-comparable

    "This kind of barbecue is original to North Carolina."

  2. 7
    Seasoned with salt but no other flavoring; ready salted
Adjective
  1. 1
    not derived or copied or translated from something else wordnet
  2. 2
    preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed wordnet
  3. 3
    being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of wordnet
  4. 4
    (of e.g. information) not secondhand or by way of something intermediary wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
autographfirstfreshinitialinnovationalmaster

Example

More examples

"In order to keep his original idea from being copied, Henry resorted to reticence."

Etymology

From Middle English original, from Old French original, from Late Latin orīginālis (“primitive, original”), from Latin orīgō (“beginning, source, origin”); see origin.

Related phrases

Original Pilipino Musicbook of original entryco-originalin the original Germanoriginal antigenic sinoriginal as sinoriginal aspect ratiooriginal characteroriginal depravityoriginal ficoriginal jurisdictionoriginal package doctrine

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.