# originate

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈɹɪd͡ʒɪneɪt/ · frequency rank #17,916

## Definitions
1. To cause (someone or something) to be; to bring (someone or something) into existence; to produce or initiate a person or thing.
2. To come into existence; to have origin or beginning; to spring, be derived (from, with).

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin orīginātus, perfect passive participle of orīginō (“to begin, give rise to”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from orīgō (orīgin- in compounds) + -ō. Compare Italian originare and Spanish originar.

## Easily confused with
- **originator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/originate-vs-originator)
- **original** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/original-vs-originate)
- **ordinate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordinate-vs-originate)

## Common misspellings (12)
`oirginate`, `orgiinate`, `origginate`, `origiante`, `originaet`, `originatte`, `originnate`, `origintae`, `origniate`, `oriignate`, `orriginate`, `roiginate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/originate