an example cited as an illustration or proof
the justice … full of wise saws and modern instances — Shakespeare
a situation viewed as one stage in a process or series of events
The author prefers, in this instance, to remain anonymous
the institution of a legal action
a court of first instance
formal a request
I am writing to you at the instance of my client
for instance
as an example
Middle English instaunce via French from Latin instantia presence, urgency, from instare to be present, from in-2 + stare to stand. The word originally meant ‘urgency, an urgent entreaty’; in medieval Latin instantia was used to translate Greek enstasis objection, example to the contrary, hence the current sense ‘example’, which dates from the 16th cent