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

originals plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• originals
  plural

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; see origin, -al ¹

Explanation

When you buy a car from its original owner, you know it's only been owned by one person. Original means "the very first." Original comes from the Latin word originem, which means "beginning or birth." Whether you're using it as an adjective to describe something that is literally the very first, or as a noun meaning something that serves as a model for making copies, original means "first." Even when you describe an original idea, meaning "something fresh or unusual," you're talking about the first idea of its kind.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

original originals

Infantino said it had become clear the project had "created divisions" that are "no longer in the interest" of its original objective.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

That its original guidance is “still in play” despite volatile jet-fuel prices speaks of the company’s strong revenue performance, the Southwest spokesperson said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

The Board of Peace offers new hope but doesn’t always stick to the original terms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Both companies will be able to show the original “The Walking Dead” series and its six spinoffs on Netflix and AMC+.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

That was the problem with money: What people did with it had consequences, but they were so remote from the original action that the mind never connected the one with the other.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Disney has had a number of hugely successful live-action remakes that came out decades after the originals, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and last year’s “Lilo & Stitch.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

For Pixar, the reliance on “Toy Story” reflects a shift away from originals that used to be its lifeblood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

Nicole Clemens, head of UK and international originals at Amazon MGM Studios, says the Culpables films have collectively reached 100 million viewers worldwide.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

Although the regrown tissues were not perfect replicas of the originals, the researchers believe the approach could eventually help reduce scarring and improve tissue repair after amputations.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 17, 2026

"Just write them out again," he said to Turtle, who had eaten the originals.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

Related Words

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