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

Critics argue that generative AI will lead to cheating, plagiarism and/or a loss of originality. —Harsh Singh, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

This focus on metrics can push creators away from authentic expression, a crucial attribute of folk art, and instead toward content optimized for algorithmic success, often at the expense of originality and sincerity. —Ruby Justice Thelot, ARTnews.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Morton: Of course, the amount of people wanting a piece of SOPHIE’s originality was almost exhausting. —Justin Curto, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024

Today the genre known as the Big Bug films occupies cult status, the films’ originality and weirdness sufficient to warrant investigation. —Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 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