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
Examples of origin in a Sentence
Her ethnic origins are French.
the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate
Recent Examples on the Web
Cornbread dressing is a Southern specialty, with its American origins dating back to the early 1900s when African Americans developed the dish using leftover bread or grains mixed with seasonings.
—
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
Nobody Wants This is featured on the cover of this week’s The Hollywood Reporter, which dives into the origins of the show and its troubled first season, which despite its issues became a global smash.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The real-life origins of most of the film’s characters, both major and minor, have been the source of speculation for decades and include everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to William Faulkner and Judy Garland.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Many still believe this to be the real origin of Black Friday's name.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for origin
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show current usage.
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Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
Nobody Wants This is featured on the cover of this week’s The Hollywood Reporter, which dives into the origins of the show and its troubled first season, which despite its issues became a global smash.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The real-life origins of most of the film’s characters, both major and minor, have been the source of speculation for decades and include everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to William Faulkner and Judy Garland.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Many still believe this to be the real origin of Black Friday's name.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for origin
Cite this Entry
“Origin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/origin. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
origin
noun
or·i·gin
ˈȯr-ə-jən 
ˈär-
2
a
: a rising, beginning, or coming from a source
b
: basic source or cause
3
: the intersection of the x-axis and y-axis on a graph
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
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