example

[ ig-zam-puhl, -zahm- ]
See synonyms for example on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. one of a number of things, or a part of something, taken to show the character of the whole: This painting is an example of his early work.

  2. a pattern or model, as of something to be imitated or avoided: to set a good example.

  1. an instance serving for illustration; a representative case: The case histories gave carefully detailed examples of this disease.

  2. an instance illustrating a rule or method, as a mathematical problem proposed for solution.

  3. an instance, especially of punishment, serving as a warning to others: Public executions were meant to be examples to the populace.

  4. a precedent; parallel case: an action without example.

verb (used with object),ex·am·pled, ex·am·pling.
  1. Rare. to give or be an example of; exemplify (used in the passive).

Origin of example

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English exa(u)mple, from Middle French example, from Latin exemplum, akin to eximere “to take out,” from ex- ex-1 + emere “to buy,” originally “to take”; replacing Middle English exemple, from Latin, as above

synonym study For example

1. Example, sample, specimen refer to an individual phenomenon taken as representative of a type, or to a part representative of the whole. Example is used of an object, condition, etc., that is assumed to illustrate a certain principle or standard: a good example of baroque architecture. Sample refers to a small portion of a substance or to a single representative of a group or type that is intended to show what the rest of the substance or the group is like: a sample of yarn. Specimen usually suggests that the “sample” chosen is intended to serve a scientific or technical purpose: a blood specimen; zoological specimens. 2. See ideal. 3. See case1.

Other words for example

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for example

example

/ (ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl) /


noun
  1. a specimen or instance that is typical of the group or set of which it forms part; sample

  2. a person, action, thing, etc, that is worthy of imitation; pattern: you must set an example to the younger children

  1. a precedent, illustration of a principle, or model: an example in a maths book

  2. a punishment or the recipient of a punishment serving or intended to serve as a warning: the headmaster made an example of him

  3. for example as an illustration; for instance

verb
  1. (tr; now usually passive) to present an example of; exemplify

Origin of example

1
C14: from Old French, from Latin exemplum pattern, from eximere to take out, from ex- 1 + emere to purchase

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with example

example

see for example; make an example of; set an example.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.