prototypical
Americanadjective
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being the original or model on which something is based or formed.
Even Los Angeles, the prototypical American automobile city, is rapidly expanding its public transit infrastructure.
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illustrating the typical qualities of a class or group.
Scotty played center field as a quick, prototypical lead-off hitter.
The International Harvester Farmall letter series, well-built and affordable, became an iconic symbol of the prototypical American small-farm tractor.
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Biology. being a primitive form regarded as the basis of a group; archetypal.
She graduated with a degree in biology, having conducted her senior thesis research on virulence factors of vaccinia, the prototypical poxvirus.
Other Word Forms
- prototypically adverb
Etymology
Origin of prototypical
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.
“Ms. Javice’s case is not the prototypical type of fraud case,” her defense attorney argued.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025
In that regard, and other obvious ways, King is not the prototypical Cal State L.A. student.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2025
In 1987, David Letterman was taping his late-night show in Las Vegas before rowdy audiences of mostly young men in preppy pullovers and muscle shirts — prototypical bros raised on “Porky’s.”
From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024
"M82 has garnered a variety of observations over the years because it can be considered as the prototypical starburst galaxy," said Bolatto, lead author of the study.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2024
The symbolism of the scene was poignant, dramatizing as it did the passing of the prototypical American and the cause of gradual emancipation.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
