What does unoriginal mean?
Unoriginal describes something that lacks creativity, novelty, or independent invention. It is often applied to ideas, designs, stories, films, arguments, and interpretations that seem derivative, imitative, or too similar to existing work. The judgment can apply to the overall conception rather than to the quality of execution: an unoriginal idea may still be presented or developed effectively. As a noun, an “unoriginal” is an informal and usually disparaging term for a person regarded as conventional or lacking creative independence. Unoriginal is related in meaning to derivative, uninspired, and uncreative, but those words may focus on different aspects of a work. Its opposites include original, creative, and innovative. The word is useful when discussing artistic invention because it distinguishes genuinely new contributions from polished work that largely follows familiar models.
Lacking creativity, novelty, or originality; derivative, imitative, or not genuinely new.
"The exhibition presented a series of unoriginal interpretations of familiar artworks."
Commonly evaluative and often critical, though it can identify a specific feature of an idea or work without condemning everything about it.
An informal term for a person considered to lack creativity or originality.
"His dismissive critics dismissed him as an unoriginal."
Rare and generally disparaging; the adjectival sense is much more common.
The plural is appropriate only for the rare informal noun meaning a person regarded as uncreative.
"The critics dismissed both directors as unoriginals."
A one-word verdict that separates a serviceable idea from one the creator actually thought up.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of unoriginal
The adjective was formed in English in the early nineteenth century by combining the negative prefix un- with original. Original came into English through French from Latin originalis, meaning “first,” “primitive,” or “principal.” The later derivatives originality, originate, and origination belong to the same semantic and etymological family.
Related word forms
How unoriginal is actually used
As an adjective, the word is evaluative and commonly critical but can describe various subjects, including ideas, designs, works, interpretations, and arguments. As a noun, it is informal and usually disparaging. Pronunciation and usage are broadly the same in British and American English.