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Definition of originalnext
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original

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective original differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of original are fresh, new, and novel. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

Where would fresh be a reasonable alternative to original?

In some situations, the words fresh and original are roughly equivalent. However, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

When can new be used instead of original?

The words new and original can be used in similar contexts, but new may apply to what is freshly made and unused, what has not been known before, or what has not been experienced before.

new brick
new designs
starts the new job

When would novel be a good substitute for original?

The words novel and original are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

How does the adjective original differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of original are fresh, new, and novel. While all these words mean "having recently come into existence or use," original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

a man without one original idea

Where would fresh be a reasonable alternative to original?

In some situations, the words fresh and original are roughly equivalent. However, fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

a fresh start

When can new be used instead of original?

The words new and original can be used in similar contexts, but new may apply to what is freshly made and unused, what has not been known before, or what has not been experienced before.

new brick
new designs
starts the new job

When would novel be a good substitute for original?

The words novel and original are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

a novel approach to the problem

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 original
Adjective
The Moment Everything Changed His original plan would have made for great photos — a sweeping sports venue backdrop, an unforgettable setting. Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026 Award-winning South African writer Amy Jephta is writing the screenplay based on an original story by the Schmutzler brothers, whose previous credits include Kenyan 2025 Oscars submission Nawi. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
On the left is the French original of a fable by Jean de La Fontaine. Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026 Monsters University outperformed the original commercially, earning $743 million on a budget of approximately $200 million. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for original
Recent Examples of Synonyms for original
Adjective
  • They were not required to enter a plea at an initial court appearance Monday and were ordered held without bail.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
  • But the initial boost to stocks of Archer, BETA, and rival Joby Aviation was short-lived.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That innovative spirit continued as Bowling grew his food truck into full-fledged restaurants.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Sesame is an innovative self-pay health care organization with a platform that operates in all 50 states and connects patients directly with doctors, without insurance as a middle-man.
    Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Of course, the cross-pollination between fashion and design isn’t entirely novel.
    Katherine McGrath, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Of course, any savvy collector recognizes that Monet’s haystacks and Pollack’s action paintings were once novel outliers, too.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Under the collaboration framework, prototype trials have been completed, while production-prototype testing has also been successfully finalized.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
  • OpenClaw's earliest prototype was a project called Clawd released last November by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger.
    , CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Gosling is a beautiful crier, and his character’s journey seems destined to end in tears.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
  • In the movie’s fuzzy metaphysics, Shelley wills herself into the consciousness of a character named Ida (also played by Buckley), a young woman angling for survival in 1930s Chicago — a colorful, dangerous world of bawdy lotharios and lethal gangsters.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Atom Power developed the world’s first commercial solid-state circuit breaker, which is drawing attention from hyperscale data centers to meet performance demands and safety needs.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The backstory Fufu Tokyo Ginza is the first urban property from Fufu Japan, a brand known for intimate onsen retreats in quieter corners of the country, seven of which hold Michelin Key distinctions.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Caravaggio, born and trained in Lombardy, had a creative boldness based on confronting reality.
    Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
  • In addition to Lauder, who is the great-granddaughter of cosmetics giant Estée Lauder, Act 4 Artists is run by Casey Hanley and Steven Sachs, who serve as co-heads of development and production, and Camila Keller Sarmiento, head of event programming and creative producer.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Publicly available satellite imagery shows the school building was part of the military compound until about 2017, when a new wall was added to separate the two.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Rosenthal believes stories about kids feeling nervous or afraid to try new things connect with both children and adults.
    Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Original.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/original. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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