originality

Definition

The quality of being novel, fresh, or unprecedented; creative work that isn't derivative or imitative of existing ideas or styles.

Example Usage

The startup impressed investors with the originality of their approach to solving payment processing.

Origin

From Latin originalis (from the origin or source), dating to the 14th century.

Fun Fact

In the Renaissance, artists prized originality as a marker of genius, but medieval craftsmen viewed faithful copying as the highest skill.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Intermediate

expediency

The art of choosing the quick fix over the right fix—prioritizing what gets results now rather than what's morally sound later. It's the business world's way of saying 'the end justifies the means,' which should absolutely not be your company's motto.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

center of excellence

A specialized team or department that provides leadership, best practices, and support for a specific focus area. Often a fancy title for a regular department trying to justify its existence and budget.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

blamestorming

A group discussion focused on identifying who's responsible for a failure rather than solving the actual problem. Brainstorming's evil twin where everyone points fingers instead of generating ideas.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

transitional

That awkward middle ground where the old system hasn't died yet but the new one isn't quite ready—the corporate equivalent of a bad toupee. A temporary band-aid solution that somehow lasts longer than intended.

💼 Corporate / Business

Beginner

memo pad

A small tablet of blank or ruled paper attached at the top with a glued or spiral binding, used for quick notes, messages, and reminders in office or home settings. Designed for jotting down brief information that doesn't require a full document.

💼 Corporate / Business

Intermediate

20% time

Allowing employees to spend one day per week on passion projects, a perk famously offered by Google that most companies claim to have but somehow never actually schedule.

💼 Corporate / Business

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