original

Word parts

origin + -al

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /əˈrɪʤənl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive original

Comparative more original

Superlative most original

1. (usually before a noun) The original person or thing, happened or existed before others of its kind.

   The book has been translated from the original Russian version.

   The police were able to return to the goods to the original owners.

2. If something is original, it is new and creative.

   Mendelssohn's C minor Trio is a highly original work.

3. If you are original, you are creative and different from other people.

   He's one of Canada's most original thinkers.

Related words

• originally
• originality
• unoriginal
• origin

Noun

Singular original

Plural originals

1. (countable) An original is a piece of writing or a work of art that is not a copy.

   I'll give you a copy and we'll keep the original here.

Antonyms

• copy