original

American  

[uh-rij-uh-nl] / əˈrɪdʒ ə nl /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the origin or beginning of something, or to a thing at its beginning.

   The book still has its original binding.

   Synonyms:

   primitive, primeval, primordial, primary

2. new; fresh; inventive; novel.

   an original way of advertising.

3. arising or proceeding independently of anything else.

   an original view of history.

4. capable of or given to thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner.

   an original thinker.

5. created, undertaken, or presented for the first time.

   to give the original performance of a string quartet.

6. being something from which a copy, a translation, or the like is made.

   The original document is in Washington.

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noun

1. a primary form or type from which varieties are derived.

   Synonyms:

   model, prototype, pattern, archetype

   Antonyms:

   copy

2. an original work, writing, or the like, as opposed to any copy or imitation.

   The original of this is in the British Museum.

3. the person or thing represented by a picture, description, etc..

   The original is said to have been the painter's own house.

4. a person whose ways of thinking or acting are original.

   In a field of brilliant technicians he is a true original.

5. Archaic. an eccentric person.

6. Archaic. a source of being; an author or originator.

original British  

/ əˈrɪdʒɪnəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to an origin or beginning

2. fresh and unusual; novel

3. able to think of or carry out new ideas or concepts

4. being that from which a copy, translation, etc, is made

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noun

1. the first and genuine form of something, from which others are derived

2. a person or thing used as a model in art or literature

3. a person whose way of thinking is unusual or creative

4. an unconventional or strange person

5. the first form or occurrence of something

6. an archaic word for originator See originator

Other Word Forms

• nonoriginal adjective
• nonoriginally adverb
• preoriginal adjective
• preoriginally adverb
• quasi-original adjective
• quasi-originally adverb
• unoriginal adjective
• unoriginally adverb

Etymology

Origin of original

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin orīginālis (adjective) and Medieval Latin orīgināle “original document” (noun use of neuter adjective), equivalent to orīgin- “beginning, source” + -ālis adjective suffix; origin, -al ¹

Example Sentences

The biggest box office surprise of 2025 is the runaway success of “Sinners,” an original concept featuring a primarily Black cast that’s still generating impressive ticket sales a month and a half after its release.

From Salon

KPop Demon Hunters is also likely to win best original song, with earworm Golden, one of the biggest hits of last year, well ahead of rivals.

From BBC

Selling planes to that pair is the original equipment, or OE, business, which typically carries lower profit margins than parts and services for aerospace and defense suppliers.

From Barron's

The chatter helped turn “Heated Rivalry” into the most successful original series of the streaming era by far for Bell Media, a division of telecom giant Bell Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal

You could visit a country that had previously neighbored France, step over the border they used to have, and—bam!—by some remnant of the original spell, you were on Zeke’s knee.

From Literature

Related Words

• creative
• imaginative
• innovative
• inventive
• seminal
• unconventional
• unusual