I. ˌin-də-ˈvij-wəl, -ˈvi-jə-wəl, -ˈvi-jəl, -ˈvi-jü-əl adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin individualis, from Latin individuus indivisible, from in- + dividuus divided, from dividere to divide
Date: 15th century
1. obsolete : inseparable
2.
a. : of, relating to, or distinctively associated with an individual
an individual effort
b. : being an individual or existing as an indivisible whole
c. : intended for one person
an individual serving
3. : existing as a distinct entity : separate
4. : having marked individuality
an individual style
Synonyms: see special , characteristic
• in·di·vid·u·al·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 1605
1.
a. : a particular being or thing as distinguished from a class, species, or collection: as
(1) : a single human being as contrasted with a social group or institution
a teacher who works with individual s
(2) : a single organism as distinguished from a group
b. : a particular person
are you the individual I spoke with on the telephone?
2. : an indivisible entity
3. : the reference of a name or variable of the lowest logical type in a calculus