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
- exemplarily adverb
- exemplariness noun
- exemplarity noun
- nonexemplary adjective
- unexemplary adjective
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
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.
Marks has an exemplary track record of his own in distressed-credit investing and is one of the few people whose writings Warren Buffett says he reads.
“But for this crime, he’s led an exemplary life,” Edward M. Robinson told the judge about his client.
From Los Angeles Times
"The public are not attuned to the real costs of providing healthcare and the quality of service you get from the veterinary profession is exemplary," he says.
From BBC
“Your behavior earlier was less than exemplary,” Handsome scolded.
From Literature
She said the judiciary had been exemplary in handling the case.
From Barron's
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.
