Individuality

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuæləti/ noun

Definition

The quality of being unique and different from other people, or the characteristics that make someone distinct and one-of-a-kind.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin 'individualitas,' derived from 'individuus' (indivisible). The concept evolved through philosophy to mean the distinctive characteristics that make a person separate and unique.

Kelly Says

Individuality is a relatively modern concept—for most of human history, people were defined by their family, job, or social class rather than personal uniqueness. The celebration of individual expression really took off during the Renaissance and reached peak importance in modern Western culture!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.