Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
individual
/ˌɘndɘˈvɘd͡ʒɘl/
When used as a noun, "individual" is often more formal than the word "person." It is frequently used in legal, medical, or sociological contexts to emphasize a person's uniqueness or their separate identity from a group. As an adjective, be careful with the meaning of "individual style." In this context, it doesn't just mean 'single,' but specifically means 'unique' or 'unconventional.' When describing attention or care (e.g., "individual attention"), it refers to a one-on-one interaction where one person is focused on only one other person.
💬Casual Conversation
Cut the buzzwords. Which individual actually failed to hit the target?
I'll circle back on that once I double check the data.
Meanings
A single human being as distinct from a group, class, or family.
"Each individual has the right to express their own opinion."
Characteristic of a particular person or thing; unique.
"She has a very individual style of painting that is instantly recognizable."
Examples
Every individual in this room deserves a fair trial!
I just want some individual attention for once, okay?
Your style is so individual, I love those shoes!
We need to treat each individual case separately.
Can you wrap these as individual gifts, please?
The individual effort really paid off this quarter.
I prefer to work as an individual contributor.
Stop acting like a group and be an individual!
Each individual slice of cake is five dollars.
I have an individual way of solving these problems.
Collocations & Compounds
individual attention
Specialized care or instruction given to one person rather than a group.
private individual
A person acting in their own capacity, not as a representative of an organization or government.
individual needs
The specific requirements or desires of a single person.
individual rights
The liberties and privileges guaranteed to every human being independently of others.
individual effort
Work performed by one person alone, rather than as part of a team.
Cultural Context
The concept of the "individual" is not merely a linguistic label for a single person; it is the cornerstone of one of the most enduring tensions in human psychology and sociology. For centuries, philosophers and thinkers have grappled with the fundamental conflict between our need for individual autonomy and our biological imperative to belong to a collective.
In the 19th century, this tension reached a fever pitch during the Romantic era. Thinkers like Ralph Waldo Emerson championed the idea of "Self-Reliance," arguing that the true individual must resist the conformity of society to find their authentic voice. This was a radical departure from earlier communal structures where an individual's identity was strictly defined by their caste, guild, or family lineage. To be an individual in the Romantic sense was an act of rebellion—a claim that the internal world of the soul was more valid than the external expectations of the state.
However, modern psychology suggests a more complex reality known as the "Social Identity Theory." While we strive to feel unique and distinct, our brains are hardwired for tribalism. We often experience a psychological crisis when our individual desires clash with the norms of our peer group. This is the source of the "loneliness of the individual": the realization that the more we cultivate a truly unique, individual identity, the further we may drift from the comforting warmth of total social assimilation.
In the digital age, this paradox has evolved into what sociologists call "curated individuality." On social media, we perform a version of being an individual by selecting specific aesthetics or opinions that make us stand out, yet we often do so using the same algorithms and trends as millions of others. We are effectively chasing a standardized version of uniqueness. Ultimately, the journey of the individual is not about complete isolation from the group, but about finding the precise point of equilibrium where one can contribute to the collective without erasing the singular spark that makes them human.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'individuum', meaning 'indivisible', from 'in-' (not) + 'dividuus' (divisible), from 'dividere' (to divide). Originally used in a philosophical context to describe an entity that cannot be further divided without losing its essence, it evolved in the 17th century to refer to a single human being as a distinct unit.