individual

[in-duh-vij-oo-uh l] /ˌɪn dəˈvɪdʒ u əl/
noun
1.
a single human being, as distinguished from a group.
2.
a person:
a strange individual.
3.
a distinct, indivisible entity; a single thing, being, instance, or item.
4.
a group considered as a unit.
5.
Biology.
  1. a single organism capable of independent existence.
  2. a member of a compound organism or colony.
6.
Cards. a duplicate-bridge tournament in which each player plays the same number of hands in partnership with every other player, individual scores for each player being kept for each hand.
adjective
7.
single; particular; separate:
to number individual copies of a limited edition.
8.
intended for the use of one person only:
to serve individual portions of a pizza.
9.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a particular person or thing:
individual tastes.
10.
distinguished by special, singular, or markedly personal characteristics; exhibiting unique or unusual qualities:
a highly individual style of painting.
11.
existing as a distinct, indivisible entity, or considered as such; discrete:
individual parts of a tea set.
12.
of which each is different or of a different design from the others:
a set of individual coffee cups.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin indīviduālis, equivalent to Latin indīvidu(us) indivisible (in- in-3 + dīvid(ere) to divide + -uus deverbal adj. suffix) + -ālis -al1
Related forms
interindividual, adjective
nonindividual, adjective
superindividual, adjective, noun
superindividually, adverb
transindividual, adjective
Can be confused
individual, party, people, person (see usage note at party; see usage note at people; see synonym study at person)
Synonyms
2. See person.
Usage note
1, 2. As a synonym for person, individual is standard, occurring in all varieties of speech and writing: Three individuals entered the room, each carrying a sheaf of papers. Some object to this use, insisting that individual can mean only “a single human being, as distinguished from a group”: An individual may have concerns that are ignored by his or her party.
Examples from the web for individual
  • Perfection in a cookie is a matter of individual preference.
  • Gather beautiful individual leaves during a walk in the country or neighborhood.
  • The truth is that each individual creative life is a story of its own.
  • When detonated, the individual flashes created brilliant rings of fire in a cone formation.
  • So, judge not the sport, but rather the individual participant.
  • In their place are curved desks set in small, open, individual spaces.
  • The notion that the best marriages are those that bring satisfaction to the individual may seem counterintuitive.
  • Non-liquid toiletries do not have an individual size limitation if they fit inside a carry-on bag.
  • Also check with your airline for any additional restrictions for individual nations.
  • The individual merits the fulcrum of fantasy, only it's the branding of fantasy.
British Dictionary definitions for individual

individual

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, characteristic of, or meant for a single person or thing
2.
separate or distinct, esp from others of its kind; particular: please mark the individual pages
3.
characterized by unusual and striking qualities; distinctive
4.
(obsolete) indivisible; inseparable
noun
5.
a single person, esp when regarded as distinct from others
6.
(biology)
  1. a single animal or plant, esp as distinct from a species
  2. a single member of a compound organism or colony
7.
(logic)
  1. Also called particular. an object as opposed to a property or class
  2. an element of the domain of discourse of a theory
Derived Forms
individually, adverb
Word Origin
C15: from Medieval Latin indīviduālis, from Latin indīviduus indivisible, from in-1 + dīviduus divisible, from dīvidere to divide
Word Origin and History for individual
adj.

early 15c., "one and indivisible" (with reference to the Trinity), from Medieval Latin individualis, from Latin individuus "indivisible," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + dividuus "divisible," from dividere "divide" (see divide). Not common before c.1600 and the 15c. usage might be isolated. Sense of "single, separate" is 1610s; meaning "intended for one person" is from 1889.

n.

"single object or thing," c.1600, from individual (adj.). Colloquial sense of "person" is attested from 1742. Latin individuum meant "an atom, indivisible particle;" in Middle English individuum was used in sense of "individual member of a species" from early 15c.