individual

Meaning

Noun

1. A person considered alone, rather than as belonging to a group of people.
2. A single physical human being as a legal subject, as opposed to a legal person such as a corporation.
3. An object, be it a thing or an agent, as contrasted to a class.
4. An element belonging to a population.

Adj

1. Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more than one.
2. Intended for a single person as opposed to more than one person.
3. Not divisible without losing its identity.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪndɪˈvɪd͡ʒʊ(ə)l/

Etymology

PIE word
*dwóh₁
From Medieval Latin indīviduālis, from Latin indīviduum (“an indivisible thing”), neuter of indīviduus (“indivisible, undivided”), from in + dīviduus (“divisible”), from dīvidō (“divide”).