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

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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

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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 An agent identity without that originator context is incomplete, and so is any audit trail that shows which agent acted but not under whose authority or why the action was permitted. — Shashwat Sehgal, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Swig, the originator of the dirty soda craze, has signed a 13-unit development deal with a local franchisee to open the drive-thru-centric soda shops in locations that will include Naperville, Crest Hill, Romeoville and Bolingbrook. — Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Franchise originator Oren Peli is set to produce for Solana Films, with James Wan and Jason Blum producing for Blumhouse Atomic Monster. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 June 2026 There can be little doubt that the Authentic is the most famous shoe of its style today, but that isn’t the same as being the originator. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for originator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for originator
  1. inventor
  2. founder
  3. designer
  4. creator
  5. father
  6. author
Noun
  • The photos also provide a peek at John Cadbury (Pearce Quigley), Elizabeth’s mother, Dorothy (Joanna Scanlan), and fellow inventor, Joseph Rowntree (Mathew Baynton).
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The five original Nobel Prizes were created under the terms of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel’s will and have been awarded since 1901, with only limited interruptions, chiefly during World War I and World War II.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of inventor
Noun
  • Another ideological ally is Peter Thiel, a co-founder of software firm Palantir who temporarily moved his family to Buenos Aires in April.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Axios reported in June that Virtue AI co-founders Bo Li, Dawn Song, and Sanmi Koyejo were joining Meta along with other employees from the startup.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of founder
Noun
  • The ChatGPT maker is also working with iPhone designer Jony Ive on consumer devices, but its first offering does not appear to be a wearable, according to Bloomberg.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • For the show, which was held at the Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève, the designer asked guests to bring a favorite book.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of designer
Noun
  • Atlantika Films’ Nano Arrieta-creator and producer with Claudia Ruíz — shares the writing room with Popy Blasco, Ibai Ariztegi and Bárbara Zemelman.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Official outlets can quote from posts on fake accounts whose creators masquerade as ordinary members of the public, making a fringe claim seem normal.
    — RENÉE DIRESTA, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of creator
Noun
  • Ellison clinched the deal by sweetening the offer price and bringing his father, Larry Ellison, in to personally guarantee funding.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Gyllenhaal’s father, Stephen Gyllenhaal, is a director and her mother, Naomi Foner, a screenwriter.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of father
Noun
  • That figure is the first half of the show’s title, the activist, author, and playwright Larry Kramer, who co-founded Gay Men’s Health Crisis and ACT UP and was instrumental in bringing the AIDS crisis to public attention.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Steinbeck’s novel is largely centered around the Hamiltons (who emigrate from Ireland to the author’s beloved Salinas Valley) and the Trasks (who move to California from the East Coast).
    — Max Gao, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of author

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Cite this Entry

“Originator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/originator. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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