Original Definition & Meaning
original
- adjective
- preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed; "the original inhabitants of the Americas"; "the book still has its original binding"; "restored the house to its original condition"; "the original performance of the opera"; "the original cast"; "retracted his original statement"
- (of e.g. information) not secondhand or by way of something intermediary; "his work is based on only original, not secondary, sources"
- being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of; "a truly original approach"; "with original music"; "an original mind"
- not derived or copied or translated from something else; "the play is original; not an adaptation"; "he kept the original copy and gave her only a xerox"; "the translation misses much of the subtlety of the original French"
- noun
- an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
- something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies; "this painting is a copy of the original"
"Original" in song lyrics
See how original is used in real songs:
-
"Taste the flav' of the original"
3rd Bass — Sons of 3rd Bass -
"I'm still hungry, plus original"
7L & Esoteric — Knockout (Victory Lap) -
"Original"
Aesop Rock f/ El-P — We're Famous
Words that rhyme with original
Usage tips for "original"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "original" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for original to find words that pair well.