individuality
Americannoun
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the particular character, or aggregate of qualities, that distinguishes one person or thing from others; sole and personal nature.
a person of marked individuality.
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individualities, individual characteristics.
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a person or thing of individual or distinctive character.
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state or quality of being individual; existence as a distinct individual.
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the interests of the individual as distinguished from the interests of the community.
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Archaic. state or quality of being indivisible or inseparable.
noun
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distinctive or unique character or personality
a work of great individuality
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the qualities that distinguish one person or thing from another; identity
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the state or quality of being a separate entity; discreteness
Synonym Usage
See character.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of individuality
First recorded in 1605–15; individual + -ity
Explanation
Whether it’s eating breakfast for lunch, learning Celtic step dancing, building birdhouses from popsicle sticks, showing off your shark tattoo, or speaking with an Australian accent on Tuesdays, all of these things can express your individuality, meaning what makes you unique. Use the noun individuality to refer to the sum total of characteristics that make up a particular individual. Individuality consists of the good, the bad — and even the crazy — that make a person distinct. The word can be describe the state or value of being unique, like the members of a group whose individuality makes for lively discussions, or a having your car painted a special color — neon green, perhaps? — to express the owner's individuality.
Vocabulary lists containing individuality
Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 4)
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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 4)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For them, individuality is free expression rather than rebellion, “dress codes be damned,” Lewis said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026
"He offers a sense of fun, confidence and an aura of competence rooted in individuality and that gives him a different kind of power."
From BBC • May 5, 2026
The actors relish the pesky, droll, frequently adorable, sometimes incendiary individuality of their roles.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
"We're seeing what's possible when individuality is embraced, not coached out," he concludes.
From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026
The violin’s absence of frets, which had been a feature of the viola da gamba family and the lute, also allowed its player greater freedom in the tuning and individuality of phrasing.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
