original

1 of 2

adjective

orig·​i·​nal ə-ˈri-jə-nᵊl How to pronounce original (audio)
-ˈrij-nəl
1
: of, relating to, or constituting an origin or beginning : initial
the original part of the house
2
a
: not secondary, derivative, or imitative
an original composition
b
: being the first instance or source from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is or can be made
3
: independent and creative in thought or action : inventive
an original artist

original

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: that from which a copy, reproduction, or translation is made
gave her a copy of the report and kept the original
b
: a work composed firsthand
This painting is a Van Gogh original.
2
a
: a person of fresh initiative or inventive capacity
an original among popular pianists, combining jazz and romantic techniques in an unusually effective mannerDouglas Watt
b
: a unique or eccentric person
Among other comedians he's an original.
3
archaic : the source or cause from which something arises
specifically : originator
Choose the Right Synonym for original

new, novel, original, fresh mean having recently come into existence or use.

new may apply to what is freshly made and unused

new brick

or has not been known before

new designs

or not experienced before.

starts the new job

novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

Examples of original in a Sentence

Adjective Their original idea was to fix their old car, but they decided to buy a new one instead. The word's original meaning was very different from its current meaning. I gave her a copy and kept the original document myself. The book has been translated into English from the original Spanish. The concept is very original. The car has a highly original design. She has a very original and creative mind. He is admired as an original American composer. Noun I gave her a copy of the report and kept the original. This isn't a reprint, it's an original. Compared to other actresses of her generation, she is a true original.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Electric Light Orchestra spent their original run releasing beloved pop-rock and prog records in the ’70s and ’80s before disbanding in 1986. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2024 The acclaimed courtroom thriller, which won the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or in 2023 and the Oscar for best original screenplay last week, has secured a nationwide theatrical release date in China on March 29. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2024 The film, an indirect sequel to the 1996 tornado-chaser hit Twister, will have the same stormy thrills as the original, but that's about where the similarities end. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 His original music is very reflective and soulful for a young artist. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 17 Mar. 2024 The pilot will, like the original, feature an ensemble of characters, according to the logline. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 The series promises a blend of humor, relatable situations, and poignant challenges, intertwined with original music crafted by the star herself. Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024 But many of these videos were made using the original version of OpenAI’s chatbot, which was released to the public in late November, 2022, and was based on the GPT-3.5 large language model. Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Premium plan, available in France for €10.99 ($11.92) a month or €97.99 a year, offers films, series and exclusive originals in quality formats, including 4K UHD, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. Ed Meza, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 The residency, which typically features covers of artists such as Frank Sinatra and Cher alongside Gaga originals, will resume on June 19 and is set to wrap on July 6. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 These acts really nail the music better than the originals and can recruit the very best musicians. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 Obviously, the sound of my arrangements does depart from the originals in certain ways, by necessity. Jasper Davidoff, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 The Wicker Man, not the 1973 original, but the Neil LaBute remake starring Nick Cage. Michael Calore Lauren Goode, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2024 Both series were previously announced as Hulu originals and mark a shift in strategy as Freeform originals traditionally air the following day on Hulu. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 And weekends feature live music from local bands playing originals and covers. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 The 2008 original received a sequel in 2018 titled The Strangers: Prey at Night. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'original.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of original was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near original

Cite this Entry

“Original.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/original. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

original

1 of 2 noun
orig·​i·​nal ə-ˈrij-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce original (audio)
-nəl
: something from which a copy or translation is made

original

2 of 2 adjective
1
: relating to or being the origin or beginning : first, earliest
the original part of an old house
original owners
2
: not copied or imitated from something else
original paintings
an original idea
3
: being an original
4
: able to think up new things : inventive
an original artist

Legal Definition

original

noun
orig·​i·​nal
1
: that from which a copy or reproduction is made
both parties signed the original
compare duplicate
2
: a work composed firsthand as the product of an author's creativity

Note: A work must be an original in order to obtain a copyright.

original adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on original

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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