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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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
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Recent Examples of archetype
This genre fluidity allows the spiritual to heighten the narrative, dealing with archetypes like the supernaturally gifted musician.
—
Robert Lang, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
All the Santas included in the study reported having successfully carved out space for themselves in their profession, despite how Santa is often visualized through a narrow archetype.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
And like these legendary characters of literature, the most dynamic Survivor players pave the way for new archetypes—Parvati, Sandra, Rupert, Tony.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Creator Mike Makowsky shapes the source material, Candice Millard’s nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic, into a collection of quintessentially American archetypes.
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Robert Lang, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
All the Santas included in the study reported having successfully carved out space for themselves in their profession, despite how Santa is often visualized through a narrow archetype.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
And like these legendary characters of literature, the most dynamic Survivor players pave the way for new archetypes—Parvati, Sandra, Rupert, Tony.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Creator Mike Makowsky shapes the source material, Candice Millard’s nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic, into a collection of quintessentially American archetypes.
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
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The trio has a surprisingly good theory about the implosion of the makeshift Astral Pulse; seems like Shroud never found the original, and someone has been outfitting low-level criminals with bootlegs that are going awry like Robert’s.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
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Online sites like Amazon and Walmart are selling Bearista dupes that are just as cute as the original.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Perfected by forerunners such as Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette, this fall has already seen two music stars gift us with lay-it-all-out-there lyrics.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Park cinema launched under the ownership of Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, a forerunner of Cineplex and today an operator of multiplexes and out of home destinations.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Previous Chinese efforts in deep-sea mining were primarily limited to theoretical studies and lab-scale prototypes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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The prototype — designed, like the Miura, by Gandini — first appeared at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, an impossible doorstop of a spaceship with a roofline that barely came up to the waists of the go-go-boot-wearing models who posed alongside it.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In October 2024, the lab firm used genealogical mapping, in which unidentified DNA is traced to relatives and ancestors to produce a more precise genetic profile and possible identity, to point to Contreras, according to the affidavit.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Over ten million years ago, long before the human species existed, our hominid ancestors adapted to metabolize alcohol.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hoyer plans to formally announce his retirement in a speech on the House floor Thursday morning, the source said.—
Nikole Killion,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The source claims the couple don't spend much time together otherwise, beyond their joint public appearances.—
Linda Marx,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nya Lödöse was an important precursor to modern-day Gothenburg, located in the city’s eastern part between 1473 and 1624.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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Bogle introduced the first index fund for everyday investors, a precursor to the Vanguard 500.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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