individual
individual — adjective
1. used to describe each thing or person as a separate unit within a larger group,
used to describe each thing or person as a separate unit within a larger group, rather than treating them all as one whole
The teacher gave each individual student a different worksheet to complete.
each + individual + noun for emphasis of separateness
Sari wrapped each individual gift in a different colour of paper.
The individual parts of the machine can be replaced separately.
Quinn labelled each individual box before loading them onto the truck.
Individual tickets for the show cost more than the group rate.
- collective
involving or shared by a whole group rather than separate members
- group
used attributively: 'group ticket', 'group rate'
文法句型
each + individual + noun
individual + noun (part, member, item, etc.)
用法筆記
Typically placed before a noun. Do not use this sense to mean 'private' or 'personal' — that function belongs to sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. made, given, or intended for use by one particular person, or connected with one
made, given, or intended for use by one particular person, or connected with one person rather than with a larger group
The hotel provides individual bottles of shampoo and soap for each guest.
individual + noun for single-portion products
Aoi received individual attention from the coach during the training session.
individual attention — very common collocation
Emre signed up for individual lessons instead of joining the group class.
Each employee has an individual locker for storing personal belongings.
The clinic creates individual treatment plans for every patient it receives.
文法句型
individual + noun (attention, need, lesson, portion, etc.)
用法筆記
Frequently found before nouns describing services, products, or arrangements — for example, 'individual attention', 'individual tuition', 'individual portions'. Do not confuse with sense 3: 'individual style' means distinctive, not personal.
常見錯誤
3. having a quality that makes someone or something clearly different from others i
having a quality that makes someone or something clearly different from others in a way that is special or unusual
Vinícius has a very individual style of painting that is easy to recognise.
very + individual + noun — distinctive quality
Amani's individual way of speaking made her stand out in the debate team.
The restaurant's individual flavour comes from a secret blend of spices.
Kabir's approach to teaching is highly individual and not like any other method.
Eitan brought his own individual dance moves to the group performance.
- distinctive
neutral, focuses on recognisable difference; 'individual' adds a sense of originality
- unique
stronger — means one of a kind, while 'individual' means clearly different
- original
suggests creativity and freshness; 'individual' highlights personal character
- characteristic
more formal and neutral; 'individual' carries a slightly admiring tone
- ordinary
not special or different from others
- conventional
following what is usual or expected
- generic
lacking any distinctive qualities
文法句型
individual + noun (style, personality, approach, etc.)
be + very/quite/highly + individual
用法筆記
Can be placed before a noun ('individual style') or after a linking verb ('Her style is very individual'). Often modified by intensifiers such as 'very', 'quite', and 'highly'. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not carry the meaning of separateness.
常見錯誤
individual — noun
1. one person considered on their own, especially when thinking about how they rela
one person considered on their own, especially when thinking about how they relate to or differ from a larger group or society
The rights of the individual must be protected even in a large society.
the + individual — generic reference to 'any one person'
Christopher was the only individual who offered to help after the accident.
The law treats each individual as responsible for their own actions.
A good school recognises the needs of each individual, not just the whole class.
The charity provided food and shelter for over two hundred individuals last winter.
- person
the most general word for a human being; 'individual' adds a sense of separateness or distinct identity
- human being
emphasises species membership rather than social role
- soul
emotional or spiritual tone; informal in counting contexts ('not a soul in sight')
文法句型
the + individual
each + individual
as an individual
individuals (plural)
用法筆記
The most common noun sense. Frequently contrasted with terms for the whole group, such as 'society', 'the community', 'the collective', or 'the state'. The plural 'individuals' is common in formal, legal, and academic writing.
常見錯誤
2. a person who does not follow what everyone else does and has their own way of th
a person who does not follow what everyone else does and has their own way of thinking or acting, often in a way that others find interesting
Élise is a true individual who follows her own path without caring what others think.
true + individual — admiring tone
With his unusual clothes and bold opinions, Jack was known as something of an individual.
something of an individual — common fixed expression
Ziad has always been an individual — he painted his room purple and started a band.
In a world of copycats, Sari remains a confident individual who does things her way.
People called her an individual because she collected old radios and fixed them herself.
- nonconformist
stronger and more ideological — someone who deliberately rejects social norms; 'individual' is gentler
- original
as a noun, slightly old-fashioned; 'individual' is more natural in modern English
- character
informal and often amusing — 'he is quite a character'; 'individual' is more neutral
- follower
someone who copies others rather than thinking for themselves
- conformist
someone who follows social norms without question
文法句型
be + quite an + individual
be + something of an + individual
an + individual (referring to a distinctive person)
用法筆記
Often carries a positive or admiring tone, suggesting charming originality rather than mere strangeness. Common in the fixed expressions 'quite an individual' and 'something of an individual'. Distinguish from noun sense 1: this sense does not contrast one person with a group — it highlights their unusual character.