in·di·vid·u·al
ˌin-də-ˈvi-jə-wəl 
-ˈvij-wəl,
-ˈvi-jəl,
-ˈvi-jü-əl
1
a
: of, relating to, or distinctively associated with an individual
an individual effort
b
: intended for one person
an individual serving
c
: being an individual or existing as an indivisible whole
2
: having marked individuality
an individual style
3
: existing as a distinct entity : separate
4
obsolete
: inseparable
individually
adverb
1
a
: a particular being or thing as distinguished from a class, species, or collection: such as
(1)
: a single human being as contrasted with a social group or institution
a teacher who works with individuals
(2)
: a single organism as distinguished from a group
b
: a particular person
are you the individual I spoke with on the telephone?
2
: an indivisible entity
3
: the reference of a name or variable of the lowest logical type in a calculus
Synonyms
Examples of individual in a Sentence
Adjective
What are the individual traits of the breed?
The doctor carefully evaluates the individual needs of her patients.
Students will receive as much individual attention as possible.
She has a very individual style of writing.
a pattern as individual as a fingerprint
Noun
They promote a philosophy that sacrifices the rights of the individual for the public welfare.
They are both rather odd individuals.
Are you the individual I spoke with on the telephone?
She's a very talented individual.
The markings on tigers are unique to each individual.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheri Berman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
By election day, Weiss had raised more than $2 million from individual contributions — more than any other non-incumbent woman running for Congress in the U.S., McLaughlin said.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
These types of stocks typically attract individual investors based on social media buzz, rather than traditional financial metrics favored by investors, such as revenue and profit growth.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2024
After Stagecoach, Lambert has other country festivals and individual dates booked through the end of September.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
The House on Saturday approved the individual aid packages on overwhelmingly bipartisan votes despite failing to act on the foreign aid due to opposition from some on the right, and the legislation was packaged together and sent to the Senate.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Based on interviews with vendors, former employees, customers a and court filings, creditors could include a combination of landlords, individual customers, vendors, merchants the company was doing business with, and unpaid bills that may have accumulated while operating the business.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
Necker Island, which has historically only been available for whole-island buyouts, recently opened to individual bookings.
—Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
The company's largest retail shareholder and third largest individual shareholder, Leo Koguan, is reported by Electrek to be voting against the compensation package and the re-election of board members including Musk's brother Kimbal.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Melissa Noel, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
That average age of onset for the disease is in an individual’s early 60s.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
For example, individuals and businesses that were hit by the severe storms and tornadoes in parts of Michigan last August now have until June 17 to file their income tax returns.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
This is the web version of CFO Daily, a newsletter on the trends and individuals shaping corporate finance.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
Two individuals were treated at the scene of the accident by Dallas Fire Rescue for minor injuries.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
But even for individuals who just plan to walk or hike, toe splay is important for balance.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
First, individuals and families apply for WIC benefits.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
To keep fish populations sustainable, fisheries must ensure that enough breeding individuals are either left alone or released back into the wild.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
Adjective
This is certainly true of the Trumpist version of the Republican Party, which has made clear its disdain not merely for pluralism and individual rights but also for democracy itself.
—Sheri Berman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
By election day, Weiss had raised more than $2 million from individual contributions — more than any other non-incumbent woman running for Congress in the U.S., McLaughlin said.
—Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
These types of stocks typically attract individual investors based on social media buzz, rather than traditional financial metrics favored by investors, such as revenue and profit growth.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2024
After Stagecoach, Lambert has other country festivals and individual dates booked through the end of September.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
The House on Saturday approved the individual aid packages on overwhelmingly bipartisan votes despite failing to act on the foreign aid due to opposition from some on the right, and the legislation was packaged together and sent to the Senate.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024
Advertisement Based on interviews with vendors, former employees, customers a and court filings, creditors could include a combination of landlords, individual customers, vendors, merchants the company was doing business with, and unpaid bills that may have accumulated while operating the business.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024
Necker Island, which has historically only been available for whole-island buyouts, recently opened to individual bookings.
—Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
The company's largest retail shareholder and third largest individual shareholder, Leo Koguan, is reported by Electrek to be voting against the compensation package and the re-election of board members including Musk's brother Kimbal.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Noun
Two individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries and two others were transported to the hospitalfor minor injuries as well.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
That average age of onset for the disease is in an individual’s early 60s.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
For example, individuals and businesses that were hit by the severe storms and tornadoes in parts of Michigan last August now have until June 17 to file their income tax returns.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
This is the web version of CFO Daily, a newsletter on the trends and individuals shaping corporate finance.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
Two individuals were treated at the scene of the accident by Dallas Fire Rescue for minor injuries.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
But even for individuals who just plan to walk or hike, toe splay is important for balance.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
First, individuals and families apply for WIC benefits.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
To keep fish populations sustainable, fisheries must ensure that enough breeding individuals are either left alone or released back into the wild.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'individual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to individual
Dictionary Entries Near individual
Cite this Entry
“Individual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/individual. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
individual
1 of 2 adjective
in·di·vid·u·al
ˌin-də-ˈvij-(ə-)wəl
-ˈvij-əl
1
: of or relating to an individual
individual traits
2
: intended for one person
individual servings
3
: particular entry 1 sense 1, separate
individual copies
4
: having a special quality : distinct
an individual style
individually
adverb
-ē
individual
2 of 2 noun1
: a single member of a class, species, or collection
2
: a single human being
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share