object lesson

American  

noun

1. a practical or concrete illustration of a principle.

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object lesson British  

noun

1. a convincing demonstration of some principle or ideal

2. (esp formerly) a lesson in which a material object forms the basis of the teaching and is available to be inspected

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Etymology

Origin of object lesson

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

object lesson

It’s an object lesson that fits a broader pattern: For more than a decade now, one man’s flights of fancy have inevitably become the country’s pressing concerns.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Faintly terrifying though it is, it’s an object lesson in the Fleischers’ expansive view of animation’s possibilities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

“But it’s also an object lesson in what you can do if you’re solvent — and clever — during the worst recession in Southern California since the 1930s.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2025

Industry insiders have told the BBC that Fishwick is now regarded as an object lesson in how not to run an installation project.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025

Cicero, then, offers an object lesson for orators in the importance of watching your mouth.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith