originalityとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From French originalité. By surface analysis, original +‎ -ity.

発音

• IPA: /əˌɹɪd͡ʒɪˈnælɪti/

名詞

originality (countable and uncountable, plural originalities)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being original or novel.
   • 1946 March and April, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, pages 105–106:

     The space at my disposal does not permit me to go into Mr. Bulleid's paper in detail, but it is impossible to refrain from an expression of admiration at the originality that has been packed into this outstanding design.

2. (uncountable) The capacity to think independently or be inventive.
   • 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 132:

     Originality may be the capacity to look at the same facts and see new explanations.

   • 2025 March 18, Samuel Moyn, “Can Democrats Learn to Dream Big Again?”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, archived from the original on 2025-03-27:

     This story of how American originality lost its way is arresting and well told. On an alternate timeline without Donald Trump in office dismantling the American scientific establishment and Elon Musk kneecapping the American state, it might have been the manifesto of a new politics.

3. (countable) Something original.
   • 2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards honour the best restoration projects: The Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award: Newcastle Central”, in RAIL, number 946, page 59:

     This houses a waiting room and gentlemen's toilets which, despite some new sanitary fittings in early BR days, fell out of use over 40 years ago, becoming dilapidated - and so remained as the only room on the station to retain its originality.

4. (uncountable) The original state or condition of a thing.
   • 2024 October 12, @bykarthikreddy, Twitter‎:

     Church Street has been reclaimed from vendors who had encroached every bit of pedestrian walk. BBMP evicted more than 70 of them and restored to its originality.

派生語

Further reading

• "originality" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 230.