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 C. G. 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

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Other Words from archetype

archetypal \ ˌär-ki-ˈtī-pəl

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

\ adjective

an archetypal English village

archetypally \ -pə-lē

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

\ adverb

Did You Know?

Archetype derives via Latin from the Greek adjective archetypos ("archetypal"), formed from the verb "archein" ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun "typos" ("type"). ("Archein" also gave us the prefix arch-, meaning "principal" or "extreme" and used to form such words as "archenemy," "archduke," and "archconservative.") "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

The American dream’s most important archetype became buying a home. — Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, "Why Housing Policy Feels Like Generational Warfare," 13 June 2019 On Alternatino, Arturo Castro gets to play both archetypes—and many more. — Time, "Arturo Castro Thought There Weren’t Enough Latino Characters on TV. So He Decided to Play Them All Himself," 11 June 2019 Americans have a genius for inventing soldier archetypes in response to changing battlefield arenas, opponents and technologies. — John F. Ross, WSJ, "‘The Crowded Hour’ Review: San Juan Hill and Beyond," 4 June 2019 An ancient story preserved in oral traditions in rural France, Austria, and northern Italy was the archetype for the classic folktale familiar to most Westerners. — Ferris Jabr, Harper's magazine, "The Story of Storytelling," 10 Mar. 2019 In addition to Elvira Hancock and other disco darlings, Phillipe cited party girls of a more recent era, particularly Paris Hilton and Lil’ Kim, who walked in the show, as personifications of this archetype. — Ian Malone, Vogue, "Disco Was Not Dead at The Blonds’s After-Party," 13 Feb. 2019 Some tiny homes completely rethink what a house should look like, while others look like pocket sized versions of architectural archetypes. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Behold, a tiny Tudor house with traditional style," 11 June 2018 Our film has plenty of archetypes and references to the book’s myths. — Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Big Fish’ in a big pond," 12 Apr. 2018 Fashion isn't the only way to tell your story; in this exploration of bridal archetypes, from the expected to the unconventional, bridal beauty breaks new ground. — Carine Roitfeld, Harper's BAZAAR, "The modern bride is a rebel, a romantic, a maverick, a mother–and so much more.," 2 Apr. 2019

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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4 Jul 2019

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The first known use of archetype was in 1545

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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