An archetype is something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing, because it has all their most important characteristics.
[formal]
Bristling with vigour, he is the archetype of the modern, global chief executive.
Synonyms: prime example, standard, model, original More Synonyms of archetype
archetype in British English
or architype (ˈɑːkɪˌtaɪp)
noun
1.
a perfect or typical specimen
2.
an original model or pattern; prototype
3. psychoanalysis
one of the inherited mental images postulated by Jung as the content of the collective unconscious
4.
a constantly recurring symbol or motif in literature, painting, etc
Word origin
C17: from Latin archetypum an original, from Greek arkhetupon, from arkhetupos first-moulded; see arch-, type
archetype in American English
(ˈɑrkəˌtaɪp)
noun
1.
the original pattern, or model, from which all other things of the same kind aremade; prototype
2.
a perfect example of a type or group
3.
in Jungian psychology, any of several innate ideas or patterns in the psyche, expressed in dreams, art, etc. as certain basic symbols or images
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmodel
Derived forms
archetypal (ˌarcheˈtypal) (ˌɑrkəˈtaɪpəl)
adjective or ˌarcheˈtypical (ˌɑrkəˈtɪpɪkəl)
archetypally (ˌarcheˈtypally)
adverb or ˌarcheˈtypically
Word origin
L archetypus < Gr archetypon < archos (see arch-) + typos (see type)
Synonyms of 'archetype'
prime example, standard, model, original
More Synonyms of archetype
In other languages
archetype
British English: archetype NOUN
An archetype is something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing, because it has all their most important characteristics.
...the archetype of the successful businessman.
American English: archetype
Brazilian Portuguese: arquétipo
Chinese: 典型
European Spanish: arquetipo
French: modèle
German: Urtyp
Italian: archetipo
Japanese: 典型
Korean: 원형
European Portuguese: arquétipo
Latin American Spanish: arquetipo
(noun)
Definition
an original model
He is the archetype of the successful businessman.
Synonyms
prime example
standard
systems that were by later standards absurdly primitive
model
the Chinese model of economic reform
original
Photocopy the form and send the original to your employer.
pattern
the ideal pattern of a good society
classic
The album is one of the classics of modern popular music.
ideal
the ideal of beauty in those days
norm
Their actions departed from what she called the commonly accepted norms of behaviour.
form
Valleys often take the form of deep canyons.
prototype
He has built a prototype of a machine called the wave rotor.
the prototype aircraft
paradigm
He was the paradigm of the self-made man.
exemplar
They viewed their new building as an exemplar of taste.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of classic
Definition
a creation or work considered as definitive
The album is one of the classics of modern popular music.
Synonyms
standard,
masterpiece,
prototype,
paradigm,
exemplar,
masterwork,
model
in the sense of exemplar
Definition
a person or thing to be copied
They viewed their new building as an exemplar of taste.