Words of Positivity
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Originality

n.capable, energeticprofessional

What it means

The quality of creating or expressing something independently and freshly.

Reach for it when praising a contribution that is more than a copy

The judges valued the originality of a filter made from local waste.

Choose between these

7
  • everyday

    creativity

    imagination produces useful ideas

    not when Creativity can remix familiar material without strong originality.

  • everyday

    imagination

    vision reaches beyond present facts

    not when Imagination can remain private.

  • warm

    freshness

    a familiar subject feels newly alive

    not when Freshness may come from timing, not creation.

  • warm

    individuality

    the creator's character comes through

    not when Individuality concerns identity more than newness.

  • professional

    inventiveness

    clever solutions address constraints

    not when Inventiveness emphasizes problem-solving rather than voice.

  • formal

    ingenuity

    resourceful cleverness solves difficulty

    not when Ingenuity may improve an existing method.

  • formal

    novelty

    newness itself is measured

    not when Novelty can be superficial and valueless.

Said against

3
  • imitation
  • conformity
  • staleness

It naturally appears in

3
  • show originality

    The final proposal can show originality without ignoring proven safety.

  • creative originality

    Her creative originality appeared in the exhibit's sound design.

  • prize originality

    The award will prize originality alongside usefulness and care.

The word family

1

Where this comes from

Originality is not a headword in the dictionaries below. The sense was checked against their entries for original, and the definition and example here are written for Originality itself.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.