individual
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A single, distinct person or thing, separate from a group.
Characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing; distinctive, personal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it emphasizes separateness from a collective. As an adjective, it emphasizes distinctness and uniqueness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical or grammatical differences. UK English more commonly uses 'individual' in formal/official contexts (e.g., 'concerned individual').
Connotations
In both varieties, can carry a slightly formal or bureaucratic tone when used as a noun in place of 'person'. Can sometimes imply a focus on the self versus the community.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English according to corpus data; used similarly across registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
individual + noun (adj): individual choice, individual performanceadjective + individual (noun): private individual, wealthy individualverb + individual: identify an individual, treat someone as an individualVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Every individual has their cross to bear. (proverbial)”
- “An individual in their own right.”
- “Rugged individual (US, ideological).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Focus on individual performance metrics and client accounts.
Academic
Analysing the role of the individual in societal structures.
Everyday
Talking about personal preference or a specific person.
Technical
In statistics, a single data point or subject; in biology, a single organism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A (rare/obsolete). The verb 'individualise' is used.
American English
- N/A (rare/obsolete). The verb 'individualize' is used.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The adverb is 'individually'. Example: They were interviewed individually.
American English
- N/A. The adverb is 'individually'. Example: The items are priced individually.
adjective
British English
- Each student has an individual learning plan.
- The cakes were served on individual plates.
American English
- She has a very individual style of painting.
- We cater to individual dietary needs.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is for one individual person.
- She is a very nice individual.
- Every individual has the right to education.
- We need to consider each individual case.
- The rights of the individual must be balanced against those of society.
- His individual contribution to the project was significant.
- The theory examines how social forces shape individual agency.
- The artist's work is highly individual, defying easy categorization.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'IN DIVIDED' → something that cannot be divided further → a single unit/person.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INDIVIDUAL IS A CONTAINER (for rights, traits, potential). SOCIETY IS A FABRIC, INDIVIDUALS ARE THREADS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'individual' as 'личность' in all contexts. 'Личность' is closer to 'personality' or 'individuality'. For the noun, 'человек' or 'лицо' (formal) is often better.
- The adjective 'individual' is a false friend of 'индивидуальный'. In English, it's less common than 'personal' or 'custom' (e.g., 'individual approach' = персональный/личный подход, not always индивидульный).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'an individual' repeatedly instead of 'a person' in informal speech, sounding stilted.
- Confusing 'individual' with 'individually' (adverb).
- Overusing the adjective where 'single', 'separate', or 'personal' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'individual' as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not rude, but it can sound impersonal or formal. In everyday contexts, 'person' is often more natural and warmer.
'Individual' stresses distinctness from a group. 'Personal' relates to or belongs to a specific person (e.g., personal life, personal opinion). They overlap but are not always interchangeable.
Yes. As a noun, it can mean a single item (e.g., 'Each individual in the batch was tested'). As an adjective, it describes something for one specific thing (e.g., 'individual portions').
'Collective rights' or 'group rights'.