typical

Rarely typ·ic

[tip-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. of the nature of or serving as a type or representative specimen.

   Synonyms: usual, stock, average, normal

2. conforming to a particular type.

3. Biology.,  exemplifying most nearly the essential characteristics of a higher group in natural history, and forming the type.

   the typical genus of a family.

4. characteristic or distinctive.

   He has the mannerisms typical of his class.

5. pertaining to, of the nature of, or serving as a type or emblem; symbolic.

typical

/ ˈtɪpɪkəl /

adjective

1. being or serving as a representative example of a particular type; characteristic

   the painting is a typical Rembrandt

2. considered to be an example of some undesirable trait

   that is typical of you!

3. of or relating to a representative specimen or type

4. conforming to a type

5. biology having most of the characteristics of a particular taxonomic group

   a typical species of a genus

Other Word Forms

• typically adverb
• typicalness noun
• typicality noun
• nontypical adjective
• nontypicalness noun
• quasi-typical adjective
• untypical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of typical¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin typicālis, equivalent to Late Latin typic(us) (from Greek typikós, equivalent to týp(os) type + -ikos -ic ) + Latin -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of typical¹

C17: from Medieval Latin typicālis, from Late Latin typicus figurative, from Greek tupikos, from tupos _type

Example Sentences

Those forecasts signal a return to more typical month-to-month changes after a turbulent summer where prices moved sharply in both directions.

Read more on Barron's

Read: The age of the typical home buyer is at an all-time high — 59.

Read more on MarketWatch

The typical group rotation pattern occurs in a clockwise fashion.

Read more on MarketWatch

The survival guide’s old plan was consistent with what emergency response experts and officials have argued across the globe, but it failed to meet typical safety standards for such an approach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Cole's family told the BBC's Disclosure programme that they told police from the beginning Cole's disappearance wasn't typical behaviour - and that he had been struggling with his mental health.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• classic 
• common 
• commonplace 
• emblematic 
• exemplary 
• natural 
• normal 
• ordinary 
• quintessential 
• regular 
• symbolic