individual

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   being or characteristic of a single thing or person

   individual drops of rain

2. 2
   adj

   separate and distinct from others of the same kind

   mark the individual pages

3. 3
   adj

   characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing

   an individual serving

4. 4
   noun

   A person considered alone, rather than as belonging to a group of people.

   He is an unusual individual.

5. 5
   noun

   A single physical human being as a legal subject, as opposed to a legal person such as a corporation.

   Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination […].

6. 6
   noun

   An object, be it a thing or an agent, as contrasted to a class.

   It is typically held that chairs, trees, rocks, people and many of the so-called ‘everyday’ objects we encounter can be regarded as individuals.

7. 7
   adj

   Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more than one.

   Near-synonyms: individuated, solitary, self-standing, freestanding

8. 8
   adj

   Intended for a single person as opposed to more than one person.

   individual personal pension

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”).