exemplary
Americanadjective
-
worthy of imitation; commendable.
exemplary conduct.
- Synonyms:
- praiseworthy, noteworthy, laudable
-
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.
adjective
-
fit for imitation; model
an exemplary performance
-
serving as a warning; admonitory
an exemplary jail sentence
-
representative; typical
an action exemplary of his conduct
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exemplary
First recorded in 1400–50, for the earlier sense “model, exemplar”; 1580–90 exemplary for def. 1; late Middle English (noun), from Latin exemplāris, from exempl(um) exemplum + -āris -ary
Explanation
Exemplary people excel at what they do and are excellent examples to others. Something exemplary is so good that it is an example for others to follow. When something is the best it can be or reaches the highest point, it is exemplary and thus worth imitating. Exemplary comes from the Latin exemplum, meaning "sample" or "example." While some people and things are held as examples of what not to do, an exemplary person or thing is always a positive example. A country can have an exemplary record of preventing pollution, and a person may have an exemplary reputation just for being all-around praiseworthy or noble.
Vocabulary lists containing exemplary
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Ghost
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Grade 10, List 4
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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.
Parton “was an exemplary human being,” she wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
In 2016, his exemplary emergency landing was dramatised in a film called "Sully", starring Tom Hanks.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
"She was loved, respected and admired by people throughout the kingdom. She was kind, talented and of exemplary conduct," Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Friday in a televised address.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
It is undeniable that Musk is exemplary at attracting capital and contracts for his company through his power and influence.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026
With John Kwang I wrote exemplary reports but I couldn’t accept the idea that Hoagland would be combing through them.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
