archetype

noun

ˈär-ki-ˌtīp How to pronounce archetype (audio)
Definition of archetypenext
1
as in original
something from which copies are made Beowulf is considered by some scholars to be the archetype for medieval British heroic tales

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forerunner
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the abacus is sometimes cited as the archetype of the modern digital calculator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of archetype The fall 2026 collection is supported with a new campaign that reflects this and unfolds through a series of intimate, voyeuristic vignettes that bring the archetypes to life. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 July 2026 The unifying archetype of the femme fatale, however, elevated Laferte’s songbook to a new level of cinematic noir. — Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 The Bulls are embracing a positionless archetype of play this season, which pushes young players such as Swain to broaden their identity on the court. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 These archetypes, once commonplace, are an endangered species, a style of ballplayer that belongs to the past. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
  1. original
  2. forerunner
  3. prototype
  4. ancestor
  5. source
  6. precursor
Noun
  • Combining genuine acting craft with the action movie goods in a way few stars outside of Steve McQueen ever have, James was a true original.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • The new space has floor-to-ceiling windows that let natural light shine in and more community and meeting spaces than the original.
    — Grace Hase, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
Definition of original
Noun
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • Furthermore, Livermore engineers supported the production process by sharing expertise from earlier prototype builds and helping vendors resolve challenges during assembly and testing.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026
  • The doc ends optimistically with a brief shot of the Tesla Roadster prototype.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 26 July 2026
Definition of prototype
Noun
  • At some point in the mid-1850s, the river Padma suddenly carved a new path through the village of his ancestors in modern-day Bangladesh, flooding their homes and scattering them across the Indian subcontinent.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • All across the United States, federal soldiers rounded up our Native American ancestors like cattle, pushing them into prison camps, many of which later became reservations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of ancestor
Noun
  • Increasingly, however, these influencers are guides, companions, cultural interpreters, and trusted sources of information in an age of rock-bottom trust in public institutions.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN over the weekend the uranium enrichment provision includes stipulations imposed by the US, but details of potential limitations are unclear.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of source
Noun
  • And their precursor is the legendary berry cake from Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown.
    — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • This seems like a logical precursor to a fund of funds and/or exchange product that allows for more real-time trading, akin to ETFs on public markets.
    — Alexander S. Blume, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of precursor

Browse Nearby Words

archetypal
archetype
archetypes
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Cite this Entry

“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on archetype

Nglish: Translation of archetype for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archetype

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