# original

/ɝˈɪdʒənəɫ/ (US) · /əɹˈɪdʒɪnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/original
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. first or earliest

adjective · CEFR A2

existing from the beginning, or being the first version of something.

For teachers: pertaining to the origin or beginning; preceding all others in time or series.

- The original plan was to go to the beach, but we stayed home because of the rain.
- The original manuscript was lost during the war, so modern editions are based on a secondary copy found in a private library.

### 2. creative and new

adjective · CEFR B1

new and interesting in a way that is different from anything else.

For teachers: not dependent on other people's ideas; showing a marked departure from traditional or existing styles.

- She has some very original ideas for how to decorate the office.
- The director's original approach to the classic play breathed new life into a story that many critics had considered exhausted.

### 3. the first version

noun · CEFR B1

the first version of a document, painting, or piece of music, rather than a copy.

For teachers: a primary work or document from which copies, translations, or reproductions are made.

- Keep a copy of the contract for yourself and send the original to us.
- While the prints are affordable, the museum is currently negotiating the purchase of the original oil painting for its permanent collection.

### 4. a unique person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who has a very interesting or unusual personality.

For teachers: an individual with a unique, eccentric, or highly creative character.

- My grandfather was a real original; he always did things his own way.
- In an industry full of people trying to fit in, she stood out as a true original who never compromised her artistic vision.

## Examples

- Please keep the original and send us a copy.
- The museum displays the original painting while the gift shop sells high-quality paper prints to visitors.
- While the digital restoration is visually impressive, it lacks the tactile history and subtle color depth found only in the physical original housed in the national archives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.