originality Hear it!

originality Definition

origi·nal·ity (ə rij′i nal′ə tē)

noun

  1. the quality or condition of being original
  2. the ability to be inventive or creative

Etymology: Fr originalité

originality Synonyms

originality

n.

creativity, creativeness, inventiveness, innovation, invention, ingenuity, ingeniousness, conception, realization, authenticity, novelty, freshness, nonconformity, newness, modernity, individuality, brilliance, intellectual independence, a creative spirit, a creative mind; see also imagination 1.

Antonyms imitation*, dependency*, imitativeness.

originality Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • lack: Even the choice of the name Antonio lacks any originality in the drama of the period.
  • demonstrate: Students are encouraged to design and maintain some of their own equipment and are given every opportunity to demonstrate originality.
  • show: Marks will be awarded for the originality shown in the staging of your exhibit.
  • combine: The hotel combines stylish originality with the best of traditional English hospitality.
  • maintain: To maintain the originality, each centrally heated cottage is furnished with locally made pine furniture, including the bedroom suites.
  • claim: We do not, however, claim any originality here.

Adjective modifier

  • startling: The first, maintained by Tom Willis is named, with startling originality 'The Pyramid ' .
  • sheer: The quality, the diversity of design, and the sheer originality of Mexican silver jewelry makes the items on sale here truly special.
  • striking: Complex machines, films, live music and an acute sense of the absurd combine in creating images of striking originality.
  • outstanding: The submitted work need not be in its final form but must provide evidence of outstanding originality and promise.
  • genuine: First 80-85 % As above, but with evidence of some genuine originality.
  • creative: Yet such a desire seems to be a precondition of the highest kind of creative originality.

Preposition: into

  • toy: Our 20-year tradition of distinctive design instills ingenuity and originality into every toy.

Modifies a noun

  • report: Below are links to a series of example originality reports.

Preposition: in

  • application: Students will have shown originality in the application of knowledge, and they will understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research.

Preposition: of

  • thought: The researchers are aware, however, that the adoption of such a consensus-based approach could mitigate against originality of thought.
  • approach: The answer will show no intentional originality of approach.
  • idea: Communication - quality of verbal expression Originality of ideas - the brain behind the mouth!
  • design: No other public statue by Kellock Brown equals his Carlyle in originality of design.
  • project: Originality of project: how much of the project repeats other people's work?
originality Quotes

All my originality consists†in giving life in human fashion to beings which are impossible according to the laws of possibility.

—Redon, Odilon

Derivative writers seem versatile because they imitate many others, past and present. Artistic originality has only itself to copy.

—Nabokov,Vladimir

Le talent provient de l'originalite¤  , qui est une manie'  re spe¤  ciale de penser, de voir, de comprendre et de juger. Talent comes from originality which is a special manner of thinking, of seeing, of understanding and of judging.

—Maupassant, Guy de

Detach the writer from the milieu where he has experienced his greatest sense of belonging, and you have created a discontinuity within his personality, a short circuit in his identity. The result is his originality, his creativity comes to an end. He becomes the one-book novelist or the one-trilogy writer.

—Roth, Henry

A man of great common sense and good taste, meaning thereby a man without originality or moral courage.

—Shaw, George Bernard