archetypal
Americanadjective
adjective
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perfect or typical as a specimen of something
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being an original model or pattern or a prototype
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psychoanal of or relating to Jungian archetypes
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constantly recurring as a symbol or motif in literature, painting, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of archetypal
Explanation
An archetypal thing represents an original type after which other, similar things are patterned. With her green skin, black garb, and evil ways, the Wicked Witch of the West is an archetypal villain. The main characters in Romeo and Juliet are the archetypal "star-crossed lovers" — we often think of them first, and use them as examples. Similarly, Superman, with his chiseled looks, herculean strength, and good conscience, is an archetypal superhero. (Contrast him with Wolverine, whose retracting claws, violent outbursts, and brooding make him an archetypal "anti-hero.")
Vocabulary lists containing archetypal
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Four
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"'Blaxicans' and Other Reinvented Americans," Vocabulary from the argument
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At their best, America’s regionalists created something timeless and archetypal from the specifics of their settings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
To some, Zuckerberg is an archetypal big tech boss - worthy of scrutiny not just for his company's scandals but also for seeming cold, robotic and ruthless.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
In a separate study published in The Seismic Record, researchers described the Maeser earthquake as an "archetypal continental mantle event."
From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026
Garcia, a career law enforcement officer who has cast himself in the political mold of conservative Texas Democrats Rep. Henry Cuellar and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, is an archetypal candidate for a competitive race like this.
From Slate ● May 22, 2026
This is in some ways the archetypal Lois Weisberg story.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
