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archetypal

American  
[ahr-ki-tahy-puhl] / ˌɑr kɪˈtaɪ pəl /
Sometimes archetypical

adjective

  1. of or having the nature of an archetype, or original model or prototype.

    an archetypal evil stepmother.

Etymology

Origin of archetypal

archetyp(e) + -al 1

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.

For the latter half of samurai history, armor was a facade, a largely symbolic display of authority for an archetypal military class whose members became bureaucrats and eventually pop-culture icons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

No one would ask anymore “How will it play in Peoria?,” because even in politics’ archetypal small town, a single 30-second local commercial on “Wheel of Fortune” today costs about $1,000, not counting production expenses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

And while this was all happening, there were all these other archetypal imperatives getting at me, like what about dancing?

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

The archetypal spin doctor, his reputation as a behind-the scenes fixer, schemer and schmoozer earned him the nickname, "the Prince of Darkness".

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

The shadowshapers’ mythology revolves around an archetypal spirit named Lucera, who apparently vanished mysteriously a few months back, not long after I entered the fold.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

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.