example
Something that is representative of all such things in a group.
Other meanings
Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.
Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).
“Nelson Mandela was an example for many to follow.”
Synonyms
- illustration
- instance
- representative
Related words
- counterexample
- exampleless
- nonexample
- exampler
- by way of example
- exemplary
- exemplarily
- exemplification
- exemplify
- for example
- lead by example
- make an example of
Example sentences
Word history
From Latin "exemplum" (sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “example” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.