new

New is an adjective used to describe something that has recently come into existence, has been recently created or introduced, or has not previously existed in a given context. It can also indicate freshness, modernity, or unfamiliarity to someone. The term is relative and context-dependent: something may be new to a person, a culture, or a market, even if others have known it for some time. Common collocations include new technology, a new model, or a new start. The opposite sense is old or existing.

Etymology: Old English niwe or neowe, related to Proto-Germanic *niwaz/*newaz; cognates include Dutch nieuw, German neu, Swedish ny, Icelandic nýr. The word has formed comparative and superlative degrees: newer and newest.

Forms: the noun form newness denotes the state of being new. The phrase brand-new emphasizes total novelty. The term also appears in expressions like "new and improved" and "new to the world" (coined or introduced recently).

Usage notes: In ordinary speech, newness is relative; something can be new to someone while being old in absolute terms. In law and science, "new" may require a specified time frame or criteria (e.g., a "new" invention defined by patent offices). In technology and commerce, "new" distinguishes updated versions or releases from prior iterations. The word functions as an attributive modifier (a new device) and as a predicative adjective (the device is new).