prototype

American  

[proh-tuh-tahyp] / ˈproʊ təˌtaɪp /

noun

• prototypes
  plural

1. the original or model on which something is based or formed.

   Synonyms:

   pattern

2. someone or something that serves to illustrate the typical qualities of a class; model; exemplar.

   She is the prototype of a student activist.

3. something analogous to another thing of a later period.

   a Renaissance prototype of our modern public housing.

4. Biology. an archetype; a primitive form regarded as the basis of a group.

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verb (used with object)

prototyped, prototyping

1. to create the prototype or an experimental model of.

   to prototype a solar-power car.

prototype British  

/ ˈprəʊtəˌtaɪp /

noun

1. one of the first units manufactured of a product, which is tested so that the design can be changed if necessary before the product is manufactured commercially

2. a person or thing that serves as an example of a type

3. biology the ancestral or primitive form of a species or other group; an archetype

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prototypal
  adjective
• prototypic
  adjective
• prototypical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• prototypes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prototype

First recorded in 1595–1605; from New Latin prōtotypon, from Greek prōtótypon, noun use of neuter of prōtótypos “original”; see proto-, type

Explanation

A prototype is the original model, a sample on which to base future designs. A company designing a new toaster will first design and build a prototype and then test it out and see if it's any good. A prototype is your test case and becomes the model on which to base the design of the finished product. Often, however, the prototype can be a phase to work out the bugs. The prototype of our hands-free toothbrush was too dangerous; it needed to return to the lab for serious improvements. Like the word archetype, the word prototype can also mean the standard on which to base a definition of something. "A prototypical cheerleader is the girl to which all other cheerleaders might aspire."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prototype prototypes prototyped prototyping

A prototype satellite containing four of Google’s artificial-intelligence chips, called Tensor Processing Units, was launched by SpaceX on Thursday, the beginning of a year-long experiment testing whether TPUs can survive in orbit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

With the help of the University of Maine’s giant 3D printer, Navatek made a prototype and unveiled it at a press conference where a Guinness World Records representative declared it the world’s largest 3D-printed boat.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

More troubling, in 2017 he started a GoFundMe to raise money for the first medbed prototype.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

A prototype is expected to be ready to be installed in early 2027 for communities to see.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Although Bach played on a few of Silbermann’s prototype pianos, he never expressed any great enthusiasm for them.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

“Five prototypes before I got the body right. It had to look cool, play easy, feel comfortable, and most of all, sound good. Built completely by hand, late nights after shop hours.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

I vividly remember going to his design studio to review the prototypes of three dolls with him, take notes and make necessary adjustments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Most of the vehicles currently on the road, even those generating revenue, are still basically prototypes, he added.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

Through the decades, the Mustang nameplate has always been applied to two-door coupes and convertibles, save for some internal prototypes and design studies that Ford never put into production.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Then there are shelves displaying vintage video games and consoles, as well as prototypes of what look like the earliest versions of the NeuroLink glasses.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

“They prototyped a lot of ideas,” said Yee, a father of three who took over from Akl as chairman of the board of KidSTREAM in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

The first digital camera was prototyped in 1975 by Eastman Kodak, which owned 90% of the U.S. film market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

Together, they designed user interfaces, prototyped an app and coded a website based on the prototype.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 11, 2023

In 2019, Google revealed it has prototyped foldable devices for years.

From The Verge ● Oct. 18, 2021

“Some things can be prototyped and some things can’t,” he said.

From New York Times ● Nov. 13, 2017

"We've spent the last four years developing, prototyping and testing technologies… We have a team of 30 people, and growing," says Rob Meyerson, co-founder and chief executive.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

QCi’s Arizona foundry, used for R&D and prototyping, has started generating early revenue, with plans for a second facility.

From Barron's ● May 11, 2026

“As an average consumer, I have access to rapid prototyping equipment that costs millions of dollars and takes specialty training to operate.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026

“When I was prototyping it, the kids loved having a game to play where they can learn and talk about it,” Yount said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2024

The computer desktop and various rapid prototyping tools brought execution closer to designers.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin

Related Words

• mock-up
• model
• precursor