French word

originalité

Pronunciation

IPA/oʁiʒinalite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounoriginality

Example

J'admire l'originalité de ton idée.

I admire the originality of your idea.

Illustration for originalité (originality)

More examples

Ce plat a une touche d'originalité.

This dish has a touch of originality.

Core concept

A creative work or idea that stands out through inventive choices and a recognizable voice.

Common phrases

  • apporter de l'originalité à

    add originality to ___

  • une touche d'originalité

    a touch of originality

  • se distinguer par son originalité

    stand out through its originality

Similar words

créativité: The ability to create new ideas in art or thought.
imagination: The ability to imagine scenes or ideas never encountered before.
nouveauté: A newly introduced feature or a quality of freshness and novelty.

Definition in French

Caractère d'une création ou d'une idée qui surprend par son inventivité et son style personnel.

Word origin

The noun originalité developed from original plus -ité, while original comes through French from Latin originalis, related to origo, origin.

Usage tips

  • For a person, originalité can suggest unconventional behavior, so it most often describes the distinctive qualities of a work, idea, or proposal.

Other meanings

  • individualitynoun
  • noveltynoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word