archetype

noun

ar·che·type | \ ˈär-ki-ˌtīp

Definition of archetype

1 : the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype … the House of Commons, the archetype of all the representative assemblies which now meet …— Thomas Babington Macaulay also : a perfect example He is the archetype of a successful businessman.

2 : idea sense 4c

3 psychology : an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual

Other Words from archetype Synonyms & Antonyms Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About archetype

Other Words from archetype

archetypal \ ˌär-ki-ˈtī-pəl

\ or less commonly archetypical \ ˌär-ki-ˈti-pi-kəl

\ adjective

an archetypal English village

archetypally \ ˌär-ki-ˈti-pə-lē

\ or less commonly archetypically \ ˌär-ki-ˈti-pi-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

Did you know?

Archetype comes from the Greek verb archein ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun typos ("type"). Archetype has specific uses in the fields of philosophy and psychology. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, for example, believed that all things have ideal forms (aka archetypes) of which real things are merely shadows or copies. And in the psychology of C. G. Jung, archetype refers to an inherited idea or mode of thought that is present in the unconscious of the individual. In everyday prose, however, archetype is most commonly used to mean "a perfect example of something."

Examples of archetype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With the knowledge of a physician’s location, prescribing habits, medical specialty and behavior, publishers can use this knowledge of their target audience archetype to enrich their inventory offerings. — Harshit Jain, Forbes, 2 June 2021 She’s a New York archetype: the single, overworked, underslept thirtysomething. — Howard Fishman, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2022 With the Kick series, Arca has put herself more in conversation with the archetype of the pop diva—that feminine dominator of the masses who historically draws the most fervent worship from LGBTQ fans. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2021 In popular culture, however, Skyline is the archetype that unofficially represents the Cincinnati collective. — Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 30 Dec. 2021 So what was amazing about Natasha and Eliza for me was breaking that mold and getting to be in that archetype, but neither of them were written to be Black women. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2022 Slate nestles into her character’s emotional grooves, and in her capable hands, Emma evolves beyond the archetype of the kooky female rom-com lead. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2022 Many of the most important Western films have, in one way or another, complicated the lonesome-and-noble male archetype. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2022 The archetype of the star athlete chasing high school glory alongside his boyhood pals may seem quaint. — New York Times, 17 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'archetype.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

1 Apr 2022

Cite this Entry

“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archetype. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.

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More Definitions for archetype

archetype

noun

ar·che·type | \ ˈär-ki-ˌtīp

Medical Definition of archetype

1a : a primitive generalized plan of structure deduced from the characters of a natural group of plants or animals and assumed to be the characteristic of the ancestor from which they are all descended

b : the original ancestor of a group of plants or animals

2 : an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual