origin
OR-ih-jihn
Origin (noun) means the point where something begins or comes from. Example: “The origin of the rumor was never traced.”
noun
1
The point where something begins or comes from.
"The origin of the rumor was never traced."
"Scientists are still debating the origin of the universe."
"The river has its origin in a small spring high in the hills."
2
A person's ancestry or background.
"Her family is of Italian origin."
"He is proud of his Irish origin and visits the country every year."
"People of many different origins live on our street."
How to use origin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhere something (or someone's ancestry) started from.
Common pairings
country of origin
of humble origin
origin of the word
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like origin.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- origins
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the rumor was never traced.
Etymology
From Latin origo, "beginning, source," from orior, "to rise" — the same root behind "orient" and "original."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “origin” mean?
The word “origin” means the point where something begins or comes from. In plain terms, where something (or someone's ancestry) started from.
How do you pronounce “origin”?
“Origin” is pronounced OR-ih-jihn (/ˈoɹ.ɪ.d͡ʒɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “origin” in a sentence?
Here is “origin” used in a sentence: “The origin of the rumor was never traced.”
What is the opposite of “origin”?
The opposite of “origin” — its antonyms — are end, destination and insertion.
What part of speech is “origin”?
“Origin” is a noun.
Where does the word “origin” come from?
The word “origin” comes from Latin. From Latin origo, "beginning, source," from orior, "to rise" — the same root behind "orient" and "original.".
Is “origin” a common word?
“Origin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “origin” have?
“Origin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the point where something begins or comes from.
What is the difference between origin and source?
Origin is the ultimate point where something first begins — its true starting place in time or space. A source is where something flows or is obtained from, which may be one of several points along the way. A river's origin is its very beginning, while a source could be any spring that feeds it.
What are the types of origin?
The word is used across many fields. There is geographic origin, meaning where someone or something comes from, along with ethnic or national origin, the origin of a species in biology, and the origin of a word in etymology. In mathematics, the origin is the fixed zero point where the axes meet.
What is an example of origin?
You might say a family traces its origins to Ireland, meaning that is where the line began. Other examples include the origin of a rumor, the origin of the universe, or the origin of an old custom. In each case, origin names the earliest point from which something later developed.
What is the opposite of origin?
There is no exact antonym, but words pointing to the end rather than the beginning work as opposites in context. An origin is where something starts, so a destination, outcome, or conclusion is where it ends up. On a journey, the origin is the departure point and the destination is the arrival point.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include origin:
