exemplary

[ ig-zem-pluh-ree, eg-zuhm-pler-ee ]

/ ɪgˈzɛm plə ri, ˈɛg zəmˌplɛr i /

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adjective

worthy of imitation; commendable: exemplary conduct.

serving as a warning: an exemplary penalty.

serving as an illustration or specimen; illustrative; typical: The sentences read are exemplary of the style of the essay as a whole.

serving as a model or pattern: The authoritative and exemplary text of the work is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

of, relating to, or composed of exempla, or examples or models: the exemplary literature of the medieval period.

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Nearby words

Origin of exemplary

1400–50 for earlier sense “model, exemplar”; 1580–90 for def 1; late Middle English (noun) < Latin exemplāris. See exemplum, -ary

SYNONYMS FOR exemplary

1. laudable, noteworthy, praiseworthy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exemplary ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsex·em·pla·ri·ly, adverbex·em·pla·ri·ness, ex·em·plar·i·ty [eg-zuhm-plar-i-tee] /ˌɛg zəmˈplær ɪ ti/, nounnon·ex·em·pla·ry, adjectiveun·ex·em·pla·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for exemplary

They are model citizens, the kind of people whose lives might be used as exemplary stories by a politician in a stump speech.
The 2014 Novel of the Year|Nathaniel Rich|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was descriptive, prescriptive, and exemplary in its clarity.
Why Is Malaysia Hiding Its Report on MH370?|Clive Irving|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Deacon Jones, 74 David D. Jones was an exemplary defensive end in the NFL.
The Deaths You Missed This Year|Malcolm Jones, Jimmy So, Michael Moynihan, Caitlin Dickson|December 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And, indeed, the 777 has had an exemplary safety record—with nearly 1,500 777s delivered, not a single passenger has died in one.
Exclusive: Boeing Pushed for Longer Dreamliner Flights|Clive Irving|February 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Mitt Romney is that rare person who seems to have exemplary personal character.
Mitt Romney’s Missing Character Narrative Must Be Part of GOP Convention Speech|John Avlon|August 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But Olympia never recovered from the effects of that fearful flight; and an early death crowned her beautiful and exemplary life.
The Duchess of Trajetto|Anne Manning
Ah, if he were as good as Tess desired him to be, his life would be the most exemplary.
The Secret of the Storm Country|Grace Miller White
Indeed, they have shown an exemplary clemency, admitted a Mexican letter printed by a Mexican paper.
The War With Mexico, Volume II (of 2)|Justin H. Smith
Each Peri is trying to wear out the endurance of the rest, and to propitiate the doorkeepers by exemplary behaviour.
Punch, Or the London Charivari, Volume 103, July 16, 1892|Various
Heine's life has a peculiar value for the student of modern life, in that it has what we may call an exemplary interest.
The Galaxy, April, 1877|Various

British Dictionary definitions for exemplary

exemplary

/ (ɪɡˈzɛmplərɪ) /

adjective

fit for imitation; modelan exemplary performance

serving as a warning; admonitoryan exemplary jail sentence

representative; typicalan action exemplary of his conduct

Derived Formsexemplarily, adverbexemplariness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for exemplary

exemplary

adj.

1580s, "fit to be an example," from Middle French exemplaire, from Latin exemplaris "that serves as an example," from exemplum "example" (see example). Earlier (early 15c.) as a noun meaning "a model of conduct."