Word
Definition
n. the quality of being new, interesting, and different from anything else. You use this to describe someone who has fresh ideas instead of just copying others.
n. the ability to think independently or creatively; the quality of being novel or unusual. Often used to evaluate artistic or intellectual work.
Examples
“The judges praised the originality of her design.”
“While the plot follows a familiar pattern, the film's originality lies in its unique visual style and character development.”
“Critics often debate whether true originality is possible in the modern era, or if every creative act is merely a sophisticated rearrangement of existing cultural fragments.”
Examples
simple
“The judges praised the originality of her design.”
contextual
“While the plot follows a familiar pattern, the film's originality lies in its unique visual style and character development.”
complex
“Critics often debate whether true originality is possible in the modern era, or if every creative act is merely a sophisticated rearrangement of existing cultural fragments.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the abstract quality; rarely used in the plural.
Real-World Examples
“Matthijs Jansen, University of Göttingen, and co-leader of the study, highlights the originality of the team's approach: "We introduce two powerful new concepts.” “When she first arrived in New York in the late 1950s, critics and fellow artists praised her originality.” Etymology
From French originalité. By surface analysis, original + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/originality
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0