Individual vs. Dividual: Know the Difference

By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023

An individual is a single, distinct person or entity, while dividual refers to a part or aspect that can be separated or divided from the whole.

Key Differences

Individual signifies a single, distinct entity, often emphasizing uniqueness and indivisibility in a social, biological, or philosophical context. Dividual represents a part or aspect of a larger whole, suggesting divisibility and the potential to be separated into components.

Shumaila Saeed

Dec 02, 2023

Individual is a key concept in discussions about personal identity, autonomy, and selfhood, often used to assert the distinctness and independence of a person. Dividual, in contrast, implies a fragmentary nature, often used in cultural and anthropological contexts to describe entities that are part of a collective or a larger system.

Shumaila Saeed

Dec 02, 2023

Individual is widely used in psychology, sociology, and anthropology to refer to a single human being with distinct personal characteristics. Dividual is less common and is used primarily in specific theoretical contexts, particularly in studies that focus on societies where personal identity is seen as fragmented or distributed.

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Dec 02, 2023

The concept of the individual is central in Western thought, emphasizing personal responsibility and individual rights. The concept of the dividual is more prevalent in non-Western contexts, where identity and social roles are often seen as divisible and shared among community members.

Shumaila Saeed

Dec 02, 2023

Individual is a commonly used term in everyday language as well as in academic and professional discourse. Dividual is a specialized term, more likely to be found in academic texts, particularly in anthropology and cultural studies.

Shumaila Saeed

Dec 02, 2023

Comparison Chart

Conceptual Basis

Single, distinct entity

Part of a larger whole, divisible

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Dec 02, 2023

Philosophical Implication

Emphasizes uniqueness and autonomy

Suggests fragmentary, collective identity

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Dec 02, 2023

Usage in Social Sciences

Common in psychology, sociology

Used in specific theoretical contexts

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Dec 02, 2023

Cultural Context

Central in Western thought

More prevalent in non-Western societies

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Dec 02, 2023

Linguistic Frequency

Common in everyday and academic language

Specialized, mostly in academic texts

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual and Dividual Definitions

Individual

A single human being distinct from a group:

Each individual has the right to freedom of speech.

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Dec 02, 2023

Dividual

Describing something not wholly independent:

The concept of the dividual self challenges Western notions of individual autonomy.

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual

Intended for one person:

This is an individual serving of cake.

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Dec 02, 2023

Dividual

A part or segment of a larger whole:

In some cultures, a person's identity is seen as dividual, connected to family and community.

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual

Separate and distinct from others of the same kind:

Each individual tree in the forest contributes to its diversity.

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Dec 02, 2023

Dividual

Referring to a divided or distributed entity in anthropology or sociology:

The study focused on the dividual aspects of social identity in tribal communities.

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual

Of or relating to an individual, especially a single human

Individual consciousness.

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Oct 19, 2023

Dividual

Pertaining to a fragmentary or partible character:

In certain rituals, objects are treated as dividual, representing shared cultural symbols.

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual

By or for one person

Individual work.

An individual portion.

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Oct 19, 2023

Dividual

Capable of being divided or shared:

The dividual nature of the project allowed team members to work on different aspects simultaneously.

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual

Existing as a distinct entity; separate

Individual drops of rain.

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Oct 19, 2023

Dividual

Separate, distinct.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Marked by or expressing individuality; distinctive or individualistic

An individual way of dressing.

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Oct 19, 2023

Dividual

Divisible, divided.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Special; particular

Each variety of melon has its individual flavor and texture.

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Oct 19, 2023

Dividual

Shared, held in common (with others).

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Serving to identify or set apart

"There was nothing individual about him except a deep scar ... across his right cheek" (Rebecca West).

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Oct 19, 2023

Dividual

Divided, shared, or participated in, in common with others.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A single human considered apart from a society or community

The rights of the individual.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A human regarded as a distinctive or unique personality

Always treated her clients as individuals.

Felt he was quite an individual.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A single organism as distinguished from a species, community, or group.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A member of a collection or set; a specimen.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A person considered alone, rather than as belonging to a group of people.

He is an unusual individual.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

(legal) A single physical human being as a legal subject, as opposed to a legal person such as a corporation.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

An object, be it a thing or an agent, as contrasted to a class.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

(statistics) An element belonging to a population.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more than one.

As we can't print them all together, the individual pages will have to be printed one by one.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Intended for a single person as opposed to more than one person.

Individual personal pension; individual cream cakes

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Not divisible without losing its identity.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Not divided, or not to be divided; existing as one entity, or distinct being or object; single; one; as, an individual man, animal, or city.

Mind has a being of its own, distinct from that of all other things, and is pure, unmingled, individual substance.

United as one individual soul.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Of or pertaining to one only; peculiar to, or characteristic of, a single person or thing; distinctive; as, individual traits of character; individual exertions; individual peculiarities.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A single person, animal, or thing of any kind; a thing or being incapable of separation or division, without losing its identity; especially, a human being; a person.

An object which is in the strict and primary sense one, and can not be logically divided, is called an individual.

That individuals die, his will ordains.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

An independent, or partially independent, zooid of a compound animal.

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A human being;

There was too much for one person to do

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

A single organism

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Being or characteristic of a single thing or person;

Individual drops of rain

Please mark the individual pages

They went their individual ways

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Separate and distinct from others of the same kind;

Mark the individual pages

On a case-by-case basis

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing;

An individual serving

Separate rooms

Single occupancy

A single bed

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Concerning one person exclusively;

We all have individual cars

Each room has a private bath

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Oct 19, 2023

Individual

Characterized by or pertaining to one person or thing:

She has a very individual style of writing.

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Dec 02, 2023

Individual

Indicating something unique or unusual:

He has a very individual perspective on the matter.

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Dec 02, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

Can individual refer to non-human entities?

Yes, it can refer to anything that is seen as distinct and separate.

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Dec 02, 2023

Can an individual also be a dividual?

In certain cultural contexts, yes, an individual's identity can be seen as dividual.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is dividual a common term in English?

No, it's more specialized and used in specific academic contexts.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is dividual always related to social or cultural aspects?

Mostly, especially in anthropology and sociology.

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Dec 02, 2023

Does dividual imply a lack of autonomy?

Not necessarily, but it emphasizes interconnectedness and divisibility.

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Dec 02, 2023

Are individual and dividual interchangeable?

No, they have different meanings and implications.

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Dec 02, 2023

Can a single person exhibit both individual and dividual characteristics?

Yes, depending on the cultural or social context.

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Dec 02, 2023

What's the primary difference between an individual and a dividual?

An individual is a single, distinct entity, while a dividual is a divisible part of a larger whole.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is dividual a negative term?

No, it's a neutral term used to describe a type of social or cultural identity.

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Dec 02, 2023

Can a work of art be described as individual?

Yes, if it reflects a unique style or perspective.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is dividual used in psychology?

Rarely, it's more common in anthropology and sociology.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is individual used in legal contexts?

Yes, particularly in reference to individual rights and responsibilities.

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Dec 02, 2023

Can a business entity be considered an individual?

Yes, in legal and economic contexts, businesses can be treated as individual entities.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is the concept of individual important in democracy?

Yes, particularly in the context of individual rights and freedoms.

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Dec 02, 2023

Does individual have a positive connotation?

It's generally neutral, but can be positive in contexts valuing independence.

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Dec 02, 2023

Can an individual's choice affect their dividual role?

Yes, personal choices can impact one's role in a collective or community.

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Dec 02, 2023

Is individualism opposite to dividualism?

They can be seen as contrasting concepts, with individualism emphasizing autonomy and dividualism emphasizing interconnectedness.

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Dec 02, 2023

Does the concept of individual vary across cultures?

Yes, perceptions of individuality can vary significantly.

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Dec 02, 2023

Does dividual suggest a collective identity?

Often, especially in non-Western societies where community is emphasized.

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Dec 02, 2023

Can dividual refer to shared responsibilities?

Yes, it can imply shared or distributed roles and duties.

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Dec 02, 2023

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About Author

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Shumaila Saeed

Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.