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individual
[ in-duh-vij-oo-uhl ]
/ ˌɪn dəˈvɪdʒ u əl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
adjective
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of individual
synonym study for individual
2. See person.
usage note for individual
1, 2. As a synonym for person, individual is standard, occurring in all varieties of speech and writing: Three individuals entered the room, each carrying a sheaf of papers. Some object to this use, insisting that individual can mean only “a single human being, as distinguished from a group”: An individual may have concerns that are ignored by their party.
OTHER WORDS FROM individual
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH individual
individual , person (see usage note at the current entry)Words nearby individual
indite, indium, indiv., indivertible, individ., individual, individualism, individualist, individualistic, individuality, individualize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use individual in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for individual
individual
/ (ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl) /
adjective
of, relating to, characteristic of, or meant for a single person or thing
separate or distinct, esp from others of its kind; particularplease mark the individual pages
characterized by unusual and striking qualities; distinctive
obsolete indivisible; inseparable
noun
Derived forms of individual
individually, adverbWord Origin for individual
C15: from Medieval Latin indīviduālis, from Latin indīviduus indivisible, from in- 1 + dīviduus divisible, from dīvidere to divide
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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