Main Entry: ¹ex·am·ple

Pronunciation: \ig-ˈzam-pəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French essample, example, from Latin exemplum, from eximere to take out, from ex- + emere to take — more at redeem

Date: 14th century

1 : one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated <a good example> <a bad example>
2 : a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others; also : an individual so punished
3 : one (as an item or incident) that is representative of all of a group or type
4 : a parallel or closely similar case especially when serving as a precedent or model
5 : an instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule

synonyms see instance, model

— for example \fər-ig-ˈzam-pəl, frig-\ : as an example <there are many sources of air pollution; exhaust fumes, for example>