archetype
noun
ar·che·type ˈär-ki-ˌtīp 
1
: the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype
… the House of Commons, the archetype of all the representative assemblies which now meet …
Thomas Babington Macaulay
Thomas Babington Macaulay also : a perfect example
He is the archetype of a successful businessman.
2
: idea sense 4c
3
psychology : an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual
archetypal
ˌär-ki-ˈtī-pəl
adjective or less commonly archetypical
ˌär-ki-ˈti-pi-kəl
an archetypal English village
archetypally
ˌär-ki-ˈti-pə-lē
adverb or less commonly archetypically
ˌär-ki-ˈti-pi-k(ə-)lē
Did you know?
Archetype comes from the Greek verb archein ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun typos ("type"). Archetype has specific uses in the fields of philosophy and psychology. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, for example, believed that all things have ideal forms (aka archetypes) of which real things are merely shadows or copies. And in the psychology of C. G. Jung, archetype refers to an inherited idea or mode of thought that is present in the unconscious of the individual. In everyday prose, however, archetype is most commonly used to mean "a perfect example of something."
Synonyms
- ancestor
- antecedent
- daddy
- foregoer
- forerunner
- granddaddy
- grandaddy
- precursor
- predecessor
- prototype
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Draymond Green was seemed like a cool archetype then, but frankly everyone brings the ball up now, and it’s all fine. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 July 2022 The patient zero for this Alone archetype was Lucas Miller, a yoga instructor and wilderness therapy guide, who participated in the show’s first season, which was held on Vancouver Island. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 15 July 2022 Companies that fit this archetype have good ideas and a history of success, but too much of their change gets stuck at the local level. David Michels, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2021 There was a glorious point in the ‘90s when Matt Damon seemed only to play unassuming boy genius to his degenerate friends, and Rounders is arguably his finest portrayal of the golden boy archetype. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 30 Apr. 2022 The archetype of an American motorcycle rider has become a white man on the open road, but Black Americans are just as steeped in motorcycle history and culture. Julius Constantine Motal, NBC News, 25 July 2022 Rooted in national history but evolved into cultural and consumer celebration, Memorial Day weekend is in many ways the archetype of a holiday. Vivek Bhaskaran, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Odessa Kelly is the political archetype of the happy warrior. Erik Morse, Vogue, 30 May 2022 The rest of the game's mechanics have been shifted from the Smash Bros. archetype to nudge players into using their special co-op powers. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 19 May 2022 See More
Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 July 2022 The patient zero for this Alone archetype was Lucas Miller, a yoga instructor and wilderness therapy guide, who participated in the show’s first season, which was held on Vancouver Island. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 15 July 2022 Companies that fit this archetype have good ideas and a history of success, but too much of their change gets stuck at the local level. David Michels, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2021 There was a glorious point in the ‘90s when Matt Damon seemed only to play unassuming boy genius to his degenerate friends, and Rounders is arguably his finest portrayal of the golden boy archetype. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 30 Apr. 2022 The archetype of an American motorcycle rider has become a white man on the open road, but Black Americans are just as steeped in motorcycle history and culture. Julius Constantine Motal, NBC News, 25 July 2022 Rooted in national history but evolved into cultural and consumer celebration, Memorial Day weekend is in many ways the archetype of a holiday. Vivek Bhaskaran, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Odessa Kelly is the political archetype of the happy warrior. Erik Morse, Vogue, 30 May 2022 The rest of the game's mechanics have been shifted from the Smash Bros. archetype to nudge players into using their special co-op powers. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 19 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin archetypum, from Greek archetypon, from neuter of archetypos archetypal, from archein + typos type
First Known Use
1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
archetype
noun
ar·che·type ˈär-ki-ˌtīp
1
a
: a primitive generalized plan of structure deduced from the characters of a natural group of plants or animals and assumed to be the characteristic of the ancestor from which they are all descended
b
: the original ancestor of a group of plants or animals
2
: an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual
archetypal
adjective
variants also archetypical
1
as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated St. Peter's basilica in Rome is considered by some art historians to be the archetypal structure in the baroque style Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- classic
- quintessential
- paradigmatic
- definitive
- model
- exemplary
- textbook
- imitable
- ideal
- unique
- special
- perfect
- fine
- nonpareil
- prime
- excellent
- absolute
- superlative
- superb
- terrific
- splendid
- wonderful
- flawless
- great
- marvelous
- stellar
- dandy
- superior
- exceptional
- capital
- sensational
- groovy
- impeccable
- grand
- choice
- nifty
- sterling
- fabulous
- primo
- fantastic
- top
- crackerjack
- marvellous
- fancy
- unsurpassed
- swell
- par excellence
- wizard
- banner
- first-rate
- first-class
- bang-up
- top-notch
- keen
- tip-top
- high-grade
- jim-dandy
- A-OK
- A1
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poor
- unsatisfactory
- bad
- typical
- substandard
- vile
- wretched
- normal
- ordinary
- execrable
- average
- inadequate
- atrocious
- inferior
- representative
- low-grade
- deficient
- disappointing
- failed
- mediocre
- second-rate
- second-class
2
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind the movie's hero is pretty archetypal, lacking in any distinctive qualities that would distinguish him from countless other masked avengers Synonyms & Similar Words
- typical
- average
- standard
- normal
- characteristic
- ordinary
- conventional
- representative
- predictable
- classic
- true
- regular
- usual
- familiar
- commonplace
- predominant
- customary
- common
- vintage
- workaday
- habitual
- everyday
- textbook
- unremarkable
- unexceptional
- expected
- routine
- preponderant
- wonted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- atypical
- anomalous
- aberrant
- abnormal
- unusual
- untypical
- deviant
- uncommon
- distinctive
- unique
- unconventional
- extraordinary
- special
- singular
- irregular
- remarkable
- exceptional
- unfamiliar
- idiosyncratic
- rare
- nontypical
- eccentric
- unexpected
- peculiar
- noteworthy
- unpredictable
- unknown
- nonrepresentative
- infrequent
- unorthodox
- strange
- unwonted
- especial
- oddball
- nonconformist
- uncustomary
- odd
- outlandish
- quirky
- offbeat
- singular
- wacky
- fantastical
- bizarre
- funky
- curious
- rare
- funny
- outrageous
- wild
- freakish
- erratic
- fantastic
- unnatural
- weird
- whacky
- outré
- kooky
- freak
- screwy
- way-out
- far-out
- kookie
- out-of-the-way
- letting on
- letting on (about)
- letting on about
- letting out
- letting someone know
- letting the cat out of the bag
- letting the cat out of the bag (about)
- letting the cat out of the bag about
- letting up
- letting up (on)
- letting up on
- letting-in
- lettings
- Lettish
- lettishes
- Letto-
- lettre bâtarde
- lettre de cachet
- lettre de créance
- lettres
- lettres bâtardes
- lettres de cachet
- lettres de créance
- letts
- lettsomite