unoriginal

adjective

un·​orig·​i·​nal ˌən-ə-ˈrj-jə-nᵊl How to pronounce unoriginal (audio)
-ˈrij-nəl
: lacking originality : not original
an unoriginal idea
a movie with a highly unoriginal plot
an unoriginal thinker

Examples of unoriginal in a Sentence

critics faulted the novel for having a painfully unoriginal plot
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In sales, trust is currency, and nothing burns trust faster than sounding unoriginal, lazy or shady. Don Markland, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 Meta said unoriginal content is when images or videos are reused without crediting the original creator. Zach Vallese, CNBC, 14 July 2025 These are deeply unoriginal ideas about the future. Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025 So far, what AI produces in the way of literature is purely derivative and thus noticeably unoriginal. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for unoriginal

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unoriginal was in 1749

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unoriginal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unoriginal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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!