originality

noun

orig·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ə-ˌri-jə-ˈna-lə-tē How to pronounce originality (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being original
2
: freshness of aspect, design, or style
3
: the power of independent thought or constructive imagination

Examples of originality in a Sentence

Critics have praised the movie's startling originality. I was amazed by the originality of her ideas.
Recent Examples on the Web On the topic of originality, one of the buzziest films on Mattel’s development slate is a film based on Barney, the purple dinosaur. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 Film critics have a tendency to give too many originality points when something bold and different comes along — Julia Ducournau’s Titane and Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild immediately come to mind. Scott Phillips, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Collaborating with his graduate student, Yu (Terry) Tian, their work is poised to provide more insight into the specific writing characteristics that indicate originality, authenticity, and quality in essays and other writing samples. Ulrich Boser, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 These were sold in pairs, a lucrative move that was regarded as a comment on vanity as well as a contradiction of the notion of originality. Victoria Dalkey, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Except that such cars inevitably require recommissioning or massive restorative efforts, and are rarely without cosmetic issues that can be so distracting as to bring into question the value of their originality altogether. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2024 Many might underestimate the sheer ingenuity and originality that designers must have when mapping out characters’ clothing. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 22 Dec. 2023 Some sites offering free papers include: Hiring a research paper writer from Reddit or any other place that isn’t a reputable writing company comes with a plethora of dangers, including: Writers on Reddit don’t have protocols in place to ensure complete originality in the final product. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 This turns out a little funky, but huge points for originality. Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'originality.' 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

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of originality was in 1742

Dictionary Entries Near originality

Cite this Entry

“Originality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/originality. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

originality

noun
orig·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ə-ˌrij-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē How to pronounce originality (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being original : freshness
the originality of an idea
2
: the power or ability to think, act, or do something in new ways : creativity
an artist of great originality

Legal Definition

originality

noun
orig·​i·​nal·​i·​ty
: the quality or fact of being the product of individual creation that warrants copyright protection for a particular work regardless of novelty

More from Merriam-Webster on originality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!