origin
noun
or·i·gin ˈȯr-ə-jən 
ˈär-
1
: ancestry, parentage
was of humble origin
She is of French origin.
2
a
: rise, beginning, or derivation from a source
the origin of life on Earth
The word "algebra" is of Arabic origin.
b
: the point at which something begins or rises or from which it derives
the origin of the custom
also : something that creates, causes, or gives rise to another
a spring is the origin of the brook
3
: the more fixed, central, or larger attachment of a muscle
4
: the intersection of coordinate axes
Synonyms
- cradle
- font
- fountain
- fountainhead
- root
- seedbed
- source
- spring
- well
- wellspring
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Her ethnic origins are French. the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate
Recent Examples on the Web More than any other Black thinker of his generation, Du Bois identified Reconstruction, the years of hope and pain following the formal end of slavery, as America’s most important origin story. 
Time, 15 Sep. 2022 Chalamet was spotted filming the origin story in England back in February, but gave fans their first look at his character in October 2021. Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Mia Goth plays the younger version of the killer from West's X in an origin story that evokes the Golden Age of Hollywood. Clark Collis, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The move fast Silicon Valley ethos, as well as Swedish capitalists and music fans hungry for content — because of all that, and more, the Spotify origin story has always seemed tailor-made for a juicy drama treatment on a streamer like Netflix. Andy Meek, BGR, 13 Sep. 2022 Each recipe gets a brief origin story, often featuring a home cook or chef from that country. Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 That charming opening leads the way into a brief origin story. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022 Lucy doesn’t have an origin story: She was found alone, as a toddler, on a train. Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The film, an origin story about wishing on stars, will be directed by Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 See More
Time, 15 Sep. 2022 Chalamet was spotted filming the origin story in England back in February, but gave fans their first look at his character in October 2021. Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Mia Goth plays the younger version of the killer from West's X in an origin story that evokes the Golden Age of Hollywood. Clark Collis, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The move fast Silicon Valley ethos, as well as Swedish capitalists and music fans hungry for content — because of all that, and more, the Spotify origin story has always seemed tailor-made for a juicy drama treatment on a streamer like Netflix. Andy Meek, BGR, 13 Sep. 2022 Each recipe gets a brief origin story, often featuring a home cook or chef from that country. Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 That charming opening leads the way into a brief origin story. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022 Lucy doesn’t have an origin story: She was found alone, as a toddler, on a train. Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 The film, an origin story about wishing on stars, will be directed by Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English origine, from Latin origin-, origo, from oriri to rise — more at orient entry 2
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing origin
Kids Definition
origin
noun
or·i·gin ˈȯr-ə-jən
1
: basic source or cause
The origin of their quarrel is not known.
2
: a person's ancestry
They are people of humble origin.
3
: the rise or beginning from a source
The story has its origin in fact.
4
: the point where the reference axes meet in a graph or coordinate plane
Medical Definition
origin
noun
or·i·gin ˈȯr-ə-jən, ˈär-
1
: the point at which something begins or rises or from which it derives
2
: the more fixed, central, or larger attachment of a muscle compare insertion sense 1
origins
noun
1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sources
- roots
- cradles
- beginnings
- fountains
- fonts
- wellsprings
- springs
- geneses
- wells
- fountainheads
- commencements
- inceptions
- seedbeds
- starts
- incipiencies
- outsets
- incipiences
- onsets
- launches
- thresholds
- nascencies
- dawns
- day ones
- baselines
- first bases
- nascences
- ground zeros
- kickoffs
- git-goes
- mornings
- square ones
- get-goes
2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime Synonyms & Similar Words
- roots
- beginnings
- seeds
- germs
- seed
- geneses
- originations
- starts
- fonts
- fountainheads
- seedbeds
- inceptions
- springs
- wellsprings
- wells
- fountains
- launches
- births
- commencements
- creations
- onsets
- wellheads
- dawns
- incipiencies
- thresholds
- outsets
- inaugurations
- mornings
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended they could trace their origins back 15 generations Synonyms & Similar Words
- lineages
- ancestries
- genealogies
- pedigrees
- families
- bloodlines
- strains
- descents
- extractions
- blood
- births
- stocks
- breedings
- relations
- lines
- parentages
- relatives
- successions
- family trees
- races
- heredities
- houses
- kins
- kindreds
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- issues
- seeds
- seed
- offspring
- posterities
- children
- progenies
- sons
- offsprings
- successors
- heirs
- inheritors
- red-breasted goose
- red-breasted merganser
- red-breasted nuthatch
- red-breasted plover
- red-breasted rail
- red-breasted sandpiper
- red-breasted sapsucker
- red-breasted snipe
- red-brown butt rot
- red-brown rot
- red-carpet
- red-cock
- red-cockaded woodpecker
- red-crested pochard
- red-eye
- red-eyed
- red-eyed pochard
- red-eyed vireo
- red-eyes
- red-faced
- red-figure
- red-figured
- red-flag
- red-flag law
- red-flag laws