'individual' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'individualis', where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'dividere' meant 'to divide'.

'individualis' transformed into the Old French word 'individuel', and eventually became the modern English word 'individual' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'indivisible or inseparable', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a single human being as distinct from a group'.