An individual is a single, separate person or thing, distinct from a group. When your teacher asks each individual in the class to write their own essay, she means everyone should work independently, creating their own original work. When a scientist studies individual cells under a microscope, she's looking at them one at a time, examining what makes each one unique.

The word emphasizes separateness and uniqueness. In a flock of birds, each individual bird has its own behavior, even though they fly together. Your individual strengths might be different from your best friend's strengths: maybe you excel at math while she excels at art.

People sometimes use individual to highlight personal responsibility or choice. When coaches say “this will require an individual effort,” they mean each player must push themselves through their own determination and work. Your individual choices, like how you spend your time or how you treat others, help shape who you become.

The word can also describe someone who stands out from the crowd. A true individual thinks for themselves and doesn't just follow what everyone else does.