English Explanatory Dictionary

example

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Something that is representative of all such things in a group.
  2. Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.
  3. Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).
  4. A person punished as a warning to others.
  5. A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model.
  6. An instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate the rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rule.
verb
  1. To be illustrated or exemplified (by).

Pronunciation

/ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl/ /ɪɡˈzam.pəl/ /ɪɡˈzæm.pəl/ [ɪɡˈzɛəmpəɫ] en-us-example.ogg /əɡˈzæm.pəl/ /əɡˈzaːm.pəl/ [ɘɡˈzɐːmpɯ]

Word forms

example examples ex. exampling exampled

Etymology

From Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).

Synonyms

byspel exemplar exemplificator exemplum e.g.

Related words

exemplar model pattern quotation template

Derived words

by way of example counterexample example in point exampleless exampler exemplarily exemplary exemplification exemplify for example lead by example make an example of nonexample proof by example set an example Stein's example textbook example
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