originator

noun

ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce originator (audio)
Definition of originatornext
1
as in inventor
one who creates or introduces something new Thomas Edison was the originator of the light bulb

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor Copernicus is sometimes hailed as the originator of modern astronomy, for he overturned the notion of an earth-centered universe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of originator For once, the originator of the glazed donut nail trend has taken pity on us, forgoing an impossible design or finish that involves applying at least three types of polish. — Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2025 The originator of the claim later admitted to fabricating it. — Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025 And as the idea has transformed from an obscure finding in the demography literature to a massive business venture, a once-productive collaboration between its originators has turned sour. — science.org, 21 Nov. 2024 In addition, biosimilar manufacturers may have to pay originator sponsors a royalty upon launch. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for originator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for originator
  1. founder
  2. designer
  3. creator
  4. author
  5. father
Noun
  • The Motifs The Flora scarf, one of Gucci’s most iconic designs, was created in 1966 when Princess Grace of Monaco put in a request for a colorful and exuberant design and Rodolfo Gucci, son of founder Guccio Gucci, asked Accornero to assist.
    — Luisa Zargani, WWD, 21 Mar. 2025
  • View Comments Since last Thursday’s announcement, Wine.com sales have been split 72% imported and 28% domestic, compared to last year’s average of 60% and 40%, said founder Michael Osborn.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of founder
Noun
  • Founder and designer Baylee Zwart is passionate about creating original, genderless jewelry, all handmade by a team of artisans in L.A. Order a double-sided version to have a different fingerprint on each side, add some sparkle with diamonds, or opt for a custom engraving.
    — Romany Williams, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2025
  • While the craft was once utilized by many architects, city planners and designers, it has largely been replaced by digital modeling, Maliszewski explained.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of designer
Noun
  • The family drama comedy follows a Gen Z content creator who returns to her ancestral home for viral content, only to encounter her deceased brother’s ghost and deal with greedy relatives.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
  • More recently, Chinese creators have come to dominate the market as TikTok and its Chinese equivalent Douyin have latched onto the trend, which is now also being explored by Chinese streamers such as iQIYI, platforms that had previously opted for more tradition longform series.
    — Mathew Scott, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of creator
Noun
  • The study authors suggest early mammals were stuck in a narrow ecological and evolutionary lane until the extinction of the dinosaurs.
    — Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2025
  • But, as the report authors state, the return on investment is compelling.
    — David Vetter, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of author
Noun
  • The son of a pharmaceutical distributor started Sun Pharma in 1983 with a $200 loan from his father to produce psychiatric drugs.
    — Yessar Rosendar, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Her father Subbarayudu Konanki and a family friend reportedly filed a complaint on Sunday calling for local police to expand the investigation.
    — Greg Norman, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of father

Browse Nearby Words

originator
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Originator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/originator. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on originator

Nglish: Translation of originator for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All