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View synonyms for

individual

[ in-duh-vij-oo-uhl ]

noun

  1. a single human being, as distinguished from a group.
  2. a person:

    A strange individual came around asking if we wanted to buy any lamps.

  3. a distinct, indivisible entity; a single thing, being, instance, or item.
  4. a group considered as a unit.
  5. Biology.
    1. a single organism capable of independent existence.
    2. a member of a compound organism or colony.
  6. Cards. a duplicate-bridge tournament in which each player plays the same number of hands in partnership with every other player, individual scores for each player being kept for each hand.


adjective

  1. single; particular; separate:

    It's standard practice to number individual copies of a limited edition.

  2. intended for the use of one person only:

    Servers handed out individual portions of a pizza to guests at the party.

  3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular person or thing:

    The decor was highly reflective of his individual tastes.

  4. distinguished by special, singular, or markedly personal characteristics; exhibiting unique or unusual qualities:

    She was known for her highly individual style of painting.

  5. existing as a distinct, indivisible entity, or considered as such; discrete:

    It can be difficult to replace individual parts of a tea set if one breaks.

  6. belonging to a set or group of which each is different or of a different design from the others:

    For Christmas they got a set of individual coffee cups.

individual

/ ˌɪԻɪˈɪʊə /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, characteristic of, or meant for a single person or thing
  2. separate or distinct, esp from others of its kind; particular

    please mark the individual pages

  3. characterized by unusual and striking qualities; distinctive
  4. obsolete.
    indivisible; inseparable
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a single person, esp when regarded as distinct from others
  2. biology
    1. a single animal or plant, esp as distinct from a species
    2. a single member of a compound organism or colony
  3. logic
    1. Also calledparticular an object as opposed to a property or class
    2. an element of the domain of discourse of a theory
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage Note

As a synonym for person, individual is standard, occurring in all varieties of speech and writing: Three individuals entered the room, each carrying a sheaf of papers. Some object to this use, insisting that individual can mean only “a single human being, as distinguished from a group”: An individual may have concerns that are ignored by their party.
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Derived Forms

  • ˌԻ徱ˈܲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • t·d·u· adjective
  • ԴDzi·徱·u· adjective
  • p·d·u· adjective noun
  • p·d·u··ly adverb
  • ٰԲi·徱·u· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of individual1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin Իī, equivalent to Latin Իīܳܲ “indivisible” (from in- negative prefix + īܳܲ “divided or divisible into two parts”) + - adjective suffix; in- 3, divide, -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of individual1

C15: from Medieval Latin Իī, from Latin Իīܳܲ indivisible, from in- 1+ īܳܲ divisible, from ī to divide
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Synonym Study

See person.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In bonobos, younger individuals are the most likely to console others and be consoled.

From

So instead of stock picking or betting on individual winners, passive investors buy and hold a broad, diversified mix of assets, such as index funds or exchange-traded funds.

From

"It's not about the scoreboard it's about our individual targets."

From

County, and those individuals were arrested on Thursday.

From

She - along with other like-minded individuals - intend to restore the National Museum and other looted institutions.

From

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individ.individualism