Synonym Chooser

How is the word origin distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of origin are inception, root, and source. While all these words mean "the point at which something begins its course or existence," origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

In what contexts can inception take the place of origin?

Although the words inception and origin have much in common, inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

When might root be a better fit than origin?

While in some cases nearly identical to origin, root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

When is source a more appropriate choice than origin?

The meanings of source and origin largely overlap; however, source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile
the source of recurrent trouble

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of origin When trying to determine the origins of teeth, one of the many possibilities considered by researchers over the years was that teeth may have evolved from bumps on the armored exoskeletons on ancient fish. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 May 2025 According to the new administration and its supporters, the laboratory origin is presumptively correct. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025 Laundry sanitizers are useful when someone in your household has been sick with an enteric infection or to wash clothing that has been exposed to pathogens of human, animal, or agricultural origin. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025 The dramedy from director Stephen Chbosky tells the true story of the origins of Enoteca Maria, the famed Italian restaurant on Staten Island. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for origin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origin
Noun
  • Charlie Davis Season: 46 Placed: 2nd If Q was the hurricane blowing through Survivor 46, Davis was a source of calm geniality at the center, constantly quoting Taylor Swift songs while obscuring his careful, clever gameplay.
    Ben Rosenstock, Time, 29 May 2025
  • Trade Wars The tariffs imposed by Trump on Europe to try to redress trade imbalances have been another source of friction.
    Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • While turmeric is a root that is ground into a spice, curcumin is the main chemical compound responsible for its yellow-orange color and many of its health benefits.1 How to Use Turmeric for Weight Loss There's no exact prescription for how much turmeric to eat to lose weight.
    Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 21 May 2025
  • Its comprehensive survey from the roots to the legacy of slavery serves to promote healing.
    Elaine Glusac, AFAR Media, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Expanding Knowledge on Prostate Cancer Researchers are now working to develop a version of the test that can detect more prostate cancer risk variants in other populations, such as those with Asian and African ancestry.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • As the first Catholic pope from the United States, Pope Leo XIV has an ancestry that traces back to the Creole and free people of color from Louisiana, illustrating complex and interconnected issues of race and class in American history.
    Maya Eaglin, NBC news, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Spanning 17 autonomous regions and two small enclaves in North Africa, the country is a cradle of diverse cultures, geography, traditions, even languages.
    Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 28 May 2025
  • Bonus: There are cradles for your dumbbells, along with a tablet holder.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • The spindly youngster is at the beginning of a journey that will successively turn him into one of the most promising, one of the most unfortunate, one of the most maddening and ultimately one of the most celebrated football players in the world.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • May 29, 2025 The LPGA Tour put in place a new pace of play policy at the beginning of the current season, which seeks to reduce playing times.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Metadata management tools integrated into Big Data ecosystems provide data lineage tracing, enabling organizations to know precisely where data originates, how it’s transformed and who has accessed it.
    Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • This new study looked into the long lineage of these distinct bed bug populations.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • This very project was arguably the genesis of former Harlem Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan‘s downfall.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
  • Its genesis was inspired by the move toward cord-cutting, the leverage sports teams have to pass along price increases to fans, and the defensive position of many real estate holdings teams possess, Zook told Sportico in 2022.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Nowhere did the gold standard develop a more distinguished pedigree than in Britain, which established it in the 1700s and maintained it almost continuously until World War I. Most countries suspended the gold standard during the War but returned to it afterward.
    Time, Time, 23 May 2025
  • Highlights include a pocket watch owned by Al Capone at Sotheby’s, a Rolex Daytona with a racing pedigree at Phillips and a Patek Philippe from 1989 that was once the world’s most complicated watch, from Christie’s.
    Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Origin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origin. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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