origin

American  

[awr-i-jin, or-] / ˈɔr ɪ dʒɪn, ˈɒr- /

noun

• origins
  plural

1. 

   something from which anything arises or is derived; source; fountainhead.

   to follow a stream to its origin.

   Synonyms:

   foundation, root

   Antonyms:

   end, destination

2. rise or derivation from a particular source.

   the origin of a word.

3. the first stage of existence; beginning.

   the origin of Quakerism in America.

4. ancestry; parentage; extraction.

   to be of Scottish origin.

   Synonyms:

   descent, linage, birth

5. Anatomy.

   1. the point of derivation.

   2. the more fixed portion of a muscle.

6. Mathematics.

   1. the point in a Cartesian coordinate system where the axes intersect.

   2. Also called pole. the point from which rays designating specific angles originate and are measured from in a polar coordinate system with no axes.

---

origin British  

/ ˈɒrɪdʒɪn /

noun

1. a primary source; derivation

2. the beginning of something; first stage or part

3. (often plural) ancestry or parentage; birth; extraction

4. anatomy

   1. the end of a muscle, opposite its point of insertion

   2. the beginning of a nerve or blood vessel or the site where it first starts to branch out

5. maths

   1. the point of intersection of coordinate axes or planes

   2. the point whose coordinates are all zero See also pole 2

6. commerce the country from which a commodity or product originates

   shipment from origin

---

origin Scientific  

/ ôr′ə-jĭn /

1. The point at which the axes of a Cartesian coordinate system intersect. The coordinates of the origin are (0,0) in two dimensions and (0,0,0) in three dimensions.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• origins
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of origin

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin orīgin-, stem of orīgō “beginning, source, lineage,” from or(īrī) “to rise” ( cf. orient) + -īgō, noun suffix

---

Explanation

An origin is a start. You could say that the origin of yoga was in India, since that's where the practice began, or that the origin of the strawberries in the market is Mexico, since they were grown there. If your best friend asks you about the origin of your fear of mariachi bands, it means that she wants to know where your phobia came from. Your ancestry is another kind of origin — you might mention your Eastern European origin if that's where your ancestors came from. The root, start, or birth of something is its origin. The origin of the word origin is the Latin word originem, meaning "rise, beginning, or source."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

origin origins

The origin of the threats was unclear and airlines said no explosives have been found.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Estrella Roque, a 69-year-old voter of Cuban origin, told AFP in Miami she had voted Republican.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

This year, physicist Francis Halzen received the prestigious award "for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin."

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

But “Black Zombie” rewinds to the monster’s Haitian roots to examine an even darker origin tied to that country’s shared history with ours.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

I wasn't sure she’d bought my version of the origin of the boots, but the next day she was wearing them as she chased after Slopper through the huge front room with the double fireplaces.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

"Through his vision, he reaffirmed the couture origins of the House, bringing his considered approach to craftsmanship, construction and creativity," he added.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

A new study exploring the origins of the six tonne Altar Stone at Stonehenge has ruled out a theory that it came from an area of Scotland.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

The laundering patterns, with thousands of transactions happening in a short period, suggest the attackers may be using automation to obscure the funds’ origins, according to Chainalysis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

For Fuller, these exceptionally energetic neutrinos are among IceCube's most exciting discoveries because their origins and the physical processes responsible for accelerating them remain poorly understood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

One of the biggest riddles presented by the remains had concerned the origins of the man whose elegant clothing found in his cabin had led to him being referred to as the “Gentleman.”

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• ancestor
• ancestry
• connection
• element
• influence
• motive
• provenance
• root
• source

---