archetype

noun
UK: /ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/
US: /ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/

  1. A typical example or a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular type.

    1. She is the archetype of a successful businesswoman. [ ] [ ]
    2. He's the archetype of the unreliable artist, always late and full of excuses which makes this hard. [ ] [ ]

  2. A recurring symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology; a universal pattern of human behavior.

    1. The hero is a common archetype in many stories. [ ] [ ]
    2. The journey archetype appears in countless myths and legends which shows how important this is. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

model pattern ideal standard prototype template image symbol
archetype verb

  1. To be a basic example of something or to represent something in an ideal way.

    1. This building archetype their style. [ ] [ ]
    2. The movie seems to archetype familiar tropes which are often found in science fiction. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "archetype" in English means: A typical example or a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular type., A recurring symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology; a universal pattern of human behavior..

The phonetic transcription of "archetype" is /ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/ in British English and /ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "archetype": model, pattern, ideal, standard, prototype, template, image, symbol.

Example usage of "archetype": "She is the archetype of a successful businesswoman.". More examples on the page.