Meaning & use
not an original
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Not new, fresh, or unique; copied or derived from something else.
Grammar: Used as a predicate adjective phrase: The design is not an original. Can also be used to describe a person who lacks creativity.
Patterns
- be not an original
- something is not an original
His painting is beautiful, but it is not an original.
The idea for the app is not an original; many similar apps exist.
She admitted that her story was not an original.
phrasefixed phrasedisapproving
A person who is not creative or does not think independently.
Grammar: Often used in a slightly critical way: He's not an original thinker.
Patterns
- be not an original
- not an original thinker
As a writer, he is competent but not an original.
The team needs someone who is not afraid to be an original, not just a follower.
She is not an original; she always copies others.
Common combinations
- not an original idea
- That's not an original idea; it's been done many times.
- not an original thought
- He rarely has an original thought; he just repeats what he hears.
- not an original work
- The film is not an original work; it's based on a novel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unoriginal
- A single adjective meaning the same, often used before a noun: an unoriginal design.
- derivative
- More formal, suggesting something is copied from another source, often used in academic contexts.
Opposites
Commonly confused: not an original or not an original vs. not original?
not an original vs not an original vs. not original
'Not an original' often refers to a specific object (e.g., a painting that is a copy), while 'not original' is a general adjective meaning lacking originality.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'not an original' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Not an original' is a phrase meaning it is a copy or not unique. 'Not original' (option 1) is also correct but has a slightly different emphasis. Option 2 is grammatically incorrect ('a' before vowel sound), and option 3 uses the wrong word 'origin'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “not an original”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.