originality
gb/ɚˌɪd͡ʒənˈælɪti/ us/ɚˌɪd͡ʒənˈælɪti/
B2
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
property
1
new and creative quality
The quality of having new and clever ideas, or doing something in a fresh and creative way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] shows originality in [doing something] / the originality of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "originality" as a count noun (e.g., *many originalities*). In standard English, "originality" is almost always uncountable and used without an article, or with "some", "a lot of", "no" (e.g., "a lot of originality", "no originality"). Another confusion is with "origin" (where something comes from) and "original" (new, first); "originality" refers specifically to the quality of being new and creative.
Synonyms
creativity (General term for the ability to produce original ideas; slightly broader and more common in everyday speech.)
|
inventiveness (Stresses clever, imaginative problem-solving, especially in practical or technical areas.)
Antonyms
conventionality (Emphasizes following usual ways and not introducing new or creative ideas.)
|
imitation (Focuses on copying existing ideas instead of creating new ones.)
Collocations
artistic originality
|great originality
|show originality
|display originality
|a lack of originality
|originality and creativity
Themes
creativity
|art
|culture
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The film was praised for its originality and bold visual style.
- Her designs show real originality, unlike anything else on the market.
- The professor encouraged originality in our final projects instead of safe, predictable topics.
- Critics complained that the novel lacked originality and felt like a copy of earlier bestsellers.
- Winning the competition will require both technical skill and originality.
Learner examples
- The teacher likes students to show originality in their writing.
- This game has a lot of originality and feels very fresh.
- The painting is not very good, but it has some originality.
- Many pop songs today do not have much originality.
- Originality is important if you want your work to stand out.
Noun
C1
property
2
distinctive, unique character
The special quality that makes a person or thing different from all others.
Usage pattern:
the originality of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "originality" only refers to art. In this sense, it can describe any person, style, or way of doing things that is clearly different from others, including clothing, teaching, cooking, or behavior.
Synonyms
uniqueness (Highlights being one of a kind; less focused on creativity and more on being unlike others.)
|
individuality (Stresses personal character and the way someone stands out from the group.)
Antonyms
sameness (Emphasizes a lack of difference or distinct character compared to others.)
|
conformity (Focuses on behaving or appearing like everyone else, with little personal distinction.)
Collocations
the originality of [his/her] style
|originality of vision
|originality of approach
|personal originality
|remarkable originality
Themes
personality
|art
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The originality of her voice set her apart from other singers.
- Architects admired the originality of the building’s overall concept, not just its details.
- His originality of approach to teaching made the classes unforgettable.
- The restaurant’s originality lies in its mix of traditional flavors with modern techniques.
- Even in a strict company culture, she managed to keep her originality of style.
Learner examples
- The originality of his clothes makes him easy to see in a crowd.
- People love the originality of this café’s design.
- Her originality of style makes her photos special.
- The band lost some originality after they changed the singer.
- He wants to keep his originality and not copy other people.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
legal threshold of creativity
In law, the amount of creative work a book, song, or other work must have so that the law will protect it.
Usage pattern:
the originality required for [legal/copyright] protection
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "originality" has a special, stricter meaning in legal English. In everyday speech it simply means being new and creative, but in law it refers to a specific standard used by courts.
Synonyms
creative authorship (Legal-style phrase focusing on the human creative input in a protected work.)
Antonyms
mere compilation (Legal term for a collection of facts without enough creative input to reach originality.)
Collocations
threshold of originality
|sufficient originality
|degree of originality
|copyright originality requirement
|test of originality
Themes
law
|business
Examples
- The court decided that the logo lacked sufficient originality to be protected by copyright.
- Lawyers argued over whether the changes to the software showed enough originality.
- In many countries, only works that reach a certain level of originality can receive copyright protection.
- The judge explained the test of originality used in previous cases.
- Legal debates continue about how much originality is needed in AI‑generated content.
Learner examples
- The book has enough originality, so it is protected by law.
- The judge said there was not enough originality in the design.
- Law students must learn how courts measure originality.
- Some simple lists do not have the originality needed for copyright.
- The case asked if computer-made art can have originality.
Grammar
Dictionary form
originality
IPA
GB/ɚˌɪd͡ʒənˈælɪti/
US/ɚˌɪd͡ʒənˈælɪti/
Syllables & stress
ori - gin - al - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (al)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: originality
- Plural: originality
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.