originator

noun

orig·​i·​na·​tor ə-ˈri-jə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce originator (audio)
plural originators
: someone or something that originates or gives rise to something
the originator of the idea/theory
a technique named after its originator
Persia was the originator of melons, cucumbers, and pears.Carol Bly

Examples of originator in a Sentence

Thomas Edison was the originator of the light bulb Copernicus is sometimes hailed as the originator of modern astronomy, for he overturned the notion of an earth-centered universe
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Expect kitschy charm, Polynesian dancers and large drinks, which reputedly use the same recipes devised by tiki-craze originator Don the Beachcomber in the 1930s, are enduring lures for tourists and locals. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025 Breguet Tradition Breguet, once the originator of some watchmaking’s greatest innovations, is often considered to be languishing within the Swatch Group. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 If nothing else, the club will forever have a place in show-business history as the originator of the celebrity roast. Bruce Handy, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 No big banks were among the top 10 originators of VA loans in 2024, according to CNBC Select analysis of data from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for originator

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of originator was in 1785

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Cite this Entry

“Originator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/originator. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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