individual

An individual is a single, distinct being or entity that can be considered separately from others. The term applies across domains, including humans, animals, plants, artifacts, and even some abstract objects in certain contexts. In philosophy, an individual is contrasted with a universal or class; it is a particular instance with an identity that endures through time and change.

Philosophical discussions of individuals often focus on personal identity, examining what makes an entity the same person over time despite alterations in appearance, memory, or circumstance. The question of criteria for persistence—bodily continuity, psychological continuity, or other factors—remains a central topic in metaphysics and cognitive science.

In biology, an individual denotes a single member of a population, such as a plant, animal, or microbial organism, with its own development and hereditary material. An individual organism is typically recognized as distinct from others in the same species, though reproduction and lineage connect individuals within populations and species.

Social and legal contexts treat individuals as persons with rights, duties, and autonomy. Individuality can be expressed through personal traits, choices, and self-conception, while societies balance respect for individual differences with shared norms and roles.

In information and data management, individuals are represented as data subjects or records. Privacy, consent, and ethical considerations arise regarding how information about individuals is collected, stored, and used.

Etymology traces the word to the Latin individuus meaning indivisible; the term entered English in the early modern period to denote a single, separate entity.