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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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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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 But the Louisville native, who previously helmed North of Bourbon and Enso, wasn't interested in just another riff on the British archetype. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 May 2026 What an incredible archetype of feminine power. Devon Ivie, Vulture, 7 May 2026 But Graham does fit an archetype of front-office construction that has boded well for other organizations, particularly in his willingness to invest in a more modern approach to roster building. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Where errors cascade across networks, the supply chain and logistics archetype holds. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
  • Like the 1976 original, the new car has front-wheel drive, but the ID.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
  • Mary Ann’s family has expanded the brand over the years, with her nephew Clark Ezell running a pair of spin-offs in Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama, and her daughter, Nicole Pettis, at the helm of the original.
    Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Las Damas was founded in May 1948 and put on the Beachcomber’s Carnival, a forerunner of the Sunset Beach Art Festival, in July of that year.
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
  • The brand was also a forerunner with exclusive collaborations.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • The news comes amid a series of delays for the debut of SpaceX's new-and-improved Starship prototype, which will become the largest rocket the company has ever launched.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 May 2026
  • For instance, a prototype version of the Justice League forms with Clark teaming up with the Green Arrow (Justin Hartley), Aquaman (Alan Ritchson), Bart Allen (Kyle Gallner), and Cyborg (Lee Thompson Young).
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • In a town in northern Peru, a teenager addicted to video games begins to desecrate the sacred ruins of his ancestors in search of money to continue playing.
    Roberto Prieto, Variety, 13 May 2026
  • Scientists think that may have happened later when our ancestors intermingled with Denisovans.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • After coaching this season under an expiring contract, the four-time championship coach has agreed to a new two-year deal, a league source confirmed to the Bay Area News Group on Saturday.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
  • There was an equal and opposite reaction from far-right Americans and Europeans, some of whom had flocked to Budapest in recent years, treating it as an illiberal city on a hill, and a source of government largesse.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • White filed a tort claim with the city in 2024; such a claim is a necessary precursor to a lawsuit against a government agency.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2026
  • Flying through a mountain with steep drops and dark surprises, this most definitely feels like a precursor to Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds.
    Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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