originality

noun

orig·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ə-ˌri-jə-ˈna-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being original

2

: freshness of aspect, design, or style

3

: the power of independent thought or constructive imagination

Synonyms

• freshness
• newness
• novelty

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

What didn’t: …but all that volume doesn’t necessarily carry the promise of originality. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

However, this does not imply that bypassing Turnitin’s originality checks is unachievable. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

originality

noun

orig·​i·​nal·​i·​ty ə-ˌrij-ə-ˈnal-ət-ē 

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