individual

individual — adjective

1. used to describe each thing or person as a separate unit within a larger group,

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

used to describe each thing or person as a separate unit within a larger group, rather than treating them all as one whole

Example

The teacher gave each individual student a different worksheet to complete.

each + individual + noun for emphasis of separateness

Sari wrapped each individual gift in a different colour of paper.

Common collocations
  • each individual
  • individual parts
  • individual member
  • individual item
  • individual ticket
Synonyms
  • single

    focuses on 'one only', without the contrast to a group that 'individual' carries

  • separate

    emphasises physical or conceptual division; 'individual' adds the idea of being a distinct unit

  • distinct

    stronger emphasis on being recognisably different; more formal

Antonyms
  • collective

    involving or shared by a whole group rather than separate members

  • group

    used attributively: 'group ticket', 'group rate'

Grammar Patterns

each + individual + noun

individual + noun (part, member, item, etc.)

Usage Note

Typically placed before a noun. Do not use this sense to mean 'private' or 'personal' — that function belongs to sense 2.

Common Mistakes

I need an individual room at the hotel.
I need a private room at the hotel.
'individual' in sense 1 means 'separate within a group', not 'private'.

2. made, given, or intended for use by one particular person, or connected with one

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

made, given, or intended for use by one particular person, or connected with one person rather than with a larger group

Example

The hotel provides individual bottles of shampoo and soap for each guest.

individual + noun for single-portion products

Aoi received individual attention from the coach during the training session.

individual attention — very common collocation

Common collocations
  • individual attention
  • individual needs
  • individual lessons
  • individual portions
  • individual treatment
Synonyms
  • personal

    wider in meaning — can refer to private feelings or belongings, while 'individual' stays focused on 'one person's use'

  • single

    focuses on quantity (one) rather than the idea of being designed for one person

  • private

    stronger sense of seclusion or confidentiality; 'individual' is neutral

Antonyms
  • shared

    used or experienced by more than one person

  • group

    involving several people together

Grammar Patterns

individual + noun (attention, need, lesson, portion, etc.)

Usage Note

Frequently found before nouns describing services, products, or arrangements — for example, 'individual attention', 'individual tuition', 'individual portions'. Do not confuse with sense 3: 'individual style' means distinctive, not personal.

Common Mistakes

Her laugh is very individual.
Her laugh is very distinctive.
'individual' in sense 2 cannot describe a quality; use sense 3 or the adjective 'distinctive' instead.

3. having a quality that makes someone or something clearly different from others i

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a quality that makes someone or something clearly different from others in a way that is special or unusual

Example

Vinícius has a very individual style of painting that is easy to recognise.

very + individual + noun — distinctive quality

Amani's individual way of speaking made her stand out in the debate team.

Common collocations
  • very individual
  • highly individual
  • individual style
  • individual character
  • own individual
Synonyms
  • distinctive

    neutral, focuses on recognisable difference; 'individual' adds a sense of originality

  • unique

    stronger — means one of a kind, while 'individual' means clearly different

  • original

    suggests creativity and freshness; 'individual' highlights personal character

  • characteristic

    more formal and neutral; 'individual' carries a slightly admiring tone

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

individual + noun (style, personality, approach, etc.)

be + very/quite/highly + individual

Usage Note

Can be placed before a noun ('individual style') or after a linking verb ('Her style is very individual'). Often modified by intensifiers such as 'very', 'quite', and 'highly'. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not carry the meaning of separateness.

Common Mistakes

Each individual student has a different style.' (ambiguous — could mean sense 1 'separate').
Each student has their own individual style.
placing 'own' before 'individual' clarifies that you mean distinctive, not separate.

individual — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words can refer to a single human, but they differ in tone and use. 'Person' is the most neutral and general term — it fits almost any context ('She is a kind person'). 'Individual' stresses separateness from a group or category, making it the right choice when contrasting one person with society or the collective ('the rights of the individual'). 'Human being' emphasises species membership and is common in philosophical or compassionate contexts ('every human being deserves dignity'). 'Soul' carries a spiritual or emotional tone and is often used in counting or existential contexts ('not a soul was in sight'). 'Character' is informal and slightly theatrical — calling someone 'a character' suggests they are amusingly unusual ('Grandpa is quite a character'). In formal writing, 'individual' and 'person' dominate; 'soul' and 'character' are reserved for casual or literary uses.

person ↗individual ↗human beingsoul ↗character

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • each and every individual
  • as individuals
  • the individual vs. society

Prepositions

  • as an individual
  • per individual
  • for each individual

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'individual' comes from the Latin word 'individuus', meaning 'not divisible' — formed from 'in-' (not) and 'dividuus' (divisible). It entered English in the 1400s through Medieval Latin 'individualis' and Old French 'individuel'. The original meaning was 'not able to be divided' (the opposite of 'divide'), and over time it came to refer to a single thing or person that cannot be split into smaller units without losing its identity. The modern sense of 'a person considered on their own' emerged in the 1600s.