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.
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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
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Comparison Chart
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
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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
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
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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
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
Individual
Marked by or expressing individuality; distinctive or individualistic
An individual way of dressing.
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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
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
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 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
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 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
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.
Shumaila Saeed
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.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 02, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila 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.
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