origin

noun
UK: /ˈɒr.ɪ.dʒɪn/
US: /ˈɔːr.ɪ.dʒɪn/

  1. The point or place where something begins or is created.

    1. The origin of the river is in the mountains.
    2. Scientists are investigating the origin of life on Earth to discover more.

  2. The cause of something, or the reason why something exists.

    1. What is the origin of this problem?
    2. The dispute had its origin in a misunderstanding between the two parties.

  3. A person's social or ethnic background.

    1. He is of Irish origin.
    2. The school has students from many different countries of origin, creating a diverse community.

Synonyms

source genesis ancestry beginning derivation root cause
origin verb

  1. To bring into being; originate.

    1. We should origin new project.
    2. The company intends to origin a new line of products next year to expand its market reach.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "origin" in English means: The point or place where something begins or is created., The cause of something, or the reason why something exists., A person's social or ethnic background..

The phonetic transcription of "origin" is /ˈɒr.ɪ.dʒɪn/ in British English and /ˈɔːr.ɪ.dʒɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "origin": source, genesis, ancestry, beginning, derivation, root, cause.

Example usage of "origin": "The origin of the river is in the mountains.". More examples on the page.