example

noun ex·am·ple \ ig-ˈzam-pəl \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of example

1 : one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated

a good example

2 : a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others; also : an individual so punished

3 : one that is representative of all of a group or type

4 : a parallel or closely similar case especially when serving as a precedent or model

5 : an instance (such as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule

— for example play \fər-ig-ˈzam-pəl, frig-\

: as an example

there are many sources of air pollution; exhaust fumes, for example

See example defined for English-language learners

See example defined for kids

Examples of example in a Sentence

He set a good example for the rest of us.
She gave several examples to show that the program is effective.
We've chosen three examples of contemporary architecture for closer study.
a classic example of a Persian rug
a fine example of the artist's work
The dictionary includes thousands of examples.

Recent Examples of example from the Web

But some of these fixes will have to happen much more quickly—if there’s a bug sending cars careening into barriers, or opening a backdoor to hackers, for example.

— aarian marshall, WIRED, "The Never-Ending Self-Driving Car Project," 8 Apr. 2018
Even some wealthy, high-profile organizations take industry money: For example, $459,000 of Susan G. Komen’s $118 million in 2015 revenue came from drugmakers in the database, according to public disclosures.

— NBC News, "Patient advocacy groups take in millions from drugmakers. Is there a payback?," 8 Apr. 2018
The scattershot efforts were consolidated by a judicial panel in December, easing case management and streamlining the effort, allowing, for example, lawyers to depose an executive once for use in all the lawsuits.

— katie zezima, Washington Post, "As the opioid epidemic rages, the fight against addiction moves to an Ohio courtroom," 7 Apr. 2018
For example, while #xanax had the warning, the hashtags #xanaxplease and #xanaxmoment still had hundreds of results.

— CBS News, "Facebook shuts down drug hashtags on Instagram," 7 Apr. 2018
The launch of Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy from the Kennedy Space Center in February, for example, was the latest in a series of milestones that have renewed companies' interest in space.

— marwa eltagouri, chicagotribune.com, "A planned space hotel hopes to welcome guests by 2022 — for $9.5 million a trip," 7 Apr. 2018
For example, the Romans created a fourth-century goblet known as the Lycurgus cup, which appears jade green when lit from the front but blood red when backlit.

— doug main, The Atlantic, "Humankind’s Most Important Material," 7 Apr. 2018
Comcast, for example, had contracts worth $1.25 million with the city of Portland last year.

— mike rogoway, OregonLive.com, "Gov. Kate Brown will sign Oregon's net neutrality bill today," 6 Apr. 2018
For example, the death certificate for Beulah McEachern on Oct. 8, 1965, records her birth on June 10, 1897, to parents Pete Oliver McNair and Elizabeth Carlyle.

— The Root, "Tracing Your Roots: Why Did My Family Bury the Past?," 6 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of example

Middle English, from Anglo-French essample, example, from Latin exemplum, from eximere to take out, from ex- + emere to take — more at redeem

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

example Synonyms

Synonyms

case, exemplar, illustration, instance, prototype, representative, sample, specimen;

cross section, microcosm;

evidence, indication, manifestation, sign;

Phrases

case in point;

Synonym Discussion of example

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category. instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

- an instance of history repeating itself

case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

- a case of mistaken identity

illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

- a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

- a typical example of bureaucratic waste

sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

- show us a sample of your work

specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

- one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

model, example, pattern, exemplar, ideal mean someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation. model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation.

- a decor that is a model of good taste

example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning.

- children tend to follow the example of their parents

pattern suggests a clear and detailed archetype or prototype.

- American industry set a pattern for others to follow

exemplar suggests either a faultless example to be emulated or a perfect typification.

- cited Joan of Arc as the exemplar of courage

ideal implies the best possible exemplification either in reality or in conception.

- never found a job that matched his ideal

example

verb

Definition of example

exampled; exampling play \ig-ˈzam-p(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to serve as an example of

2 archaic : to be or set an example to

First Known Use of example

14th century

EXAMPLE Defined for English Language Learners

example

noun

Definition of example for English Language Learners

: a person or way of behaving that is seen as a model that should be followed
: someone or something that is mentioned to help explain what you are saying or to show that a general statement is true
: something or someone chosen from a group in order to show what the whole group is like