exemplary

adjective ex·em·pla·ry \ ig-ˈzem-plə-rē \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of exemplary

1 a : deserving imitation : commendable

his courage was exemplary

; also : deserving imitation because of excellence

they serve exemplary pastries
—G. V. Higgins

b : serving as a pattern

2 : serving as an example, instance, or illustration

this story is exemplary of her style

3 : serving as a warning : monitory

given an exemplary punishment

—

exemplarily

play \ˌeg-ˌzem-ˈpler-ə-lē\ adverb

—

exemplariness

play \ig-ˈzem-plə-rē-nəs\ noun

—

exemplarity

play \ˌeg-ˌzem-ˈpler-ə-tē\ noun

See exemplary defined for English-language learners

See exemplary defined for kids

exemplary was our Word of the Day on 06/01/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of exemplary in a Sentence

Each cantina has its own style, but almost all of them share several key traits: uniformed waiters offering exemplary service, a trio of musicians strolling from table to table playing songs on request, lots of men playing dominoes, plenty of good tequila and cold beer, and tasty home-cooked botanas (snacks) served free with each round of drinks. —Chris Humphrey, National Geographic Traveler, September 2008
A few Hollywood couples stayed hitched—Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 50 years and counting—but such exemplary marriages had less entertainment value than the connubial career of, say, Elizabeth Taylor, eight times wed and divorced, including two volatile turns with Richard Burton. —Richard Corliss, Time, 28 Jan. 2008
Among the most important factors that distinguished the best Civil War regiments from the mediocre ones were the quality and exemplary courage of their officers. —James M. McPherson, New York Review of Books, 6 Oct. 2005
as a hospital volunteer you have given exemplary service to your community
armies have traditionally used public execution as an exemplary punishment for the crime of desertion

Recent Examples of exemplary from the Web

Thompson’s confidential report, first reported by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper and confirmed by Volkswagen, is the latest sign a campaign by Volkswagen to become an exemplary corporate citizen has floundered.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Chase planning to add hundreds of branches," 22 Apr. 2018
However, its middle schools all scored near or above HISD averages, and its high schools reported exemplary academic results.

— jacob carpenter, Houston Chronicle, "Possible charter partner revealed for HISD's struggling schools," 20 Apr. 2018
But the companies also urge passengers to give separate additional tips to crew members who provide exemplary service.

— rosemary mcclure, latimes.com, "Cruise lines increase automatic 'gratuities' and call them something else now," 10 Apr. 2018
The money raised by the gala will go to various exemplary causes, along with a large portion being offered to the village of Elm Grove itself.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Elm Grove dentist sponsors over $5,000 for Elm Grove Junior Guild's Charity Gala," 29 Mar. 2018
Beyond just exemplary auto service, the brand takes a close interest in the health of its customers' vehicles by approaching auto repair work with transparency, integrity and compassion.

— shirley macfarland, cleveland.com, "Christian Brothers revs its engines for franchise expansion in Cuyahoga County: Talk of the Towns," 23 Mar. 2018
Jamaica Some assume this spot is just a diving destination because of its exemplary reefs (the Bonaire National Marine Park boasts 6,700 acres of sea-life), but that’s only half the picture.

— Daily Intelligencer, "The Adventure-Seeker’s Guide to the Caribbean," 10 Apr. 2018
More: Tiger Woods at 2018 Masters: Comeback Tiger aware of fortune, humbled by second chances Woods' grit was exemplary.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty on Masters 2018: Is this the last hurrah for Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson?," 6 Apr. 2018
In 2015, Welch was awarded the chivalric Order of Australia for exemplary service.

— San Francisco Chronicle, "Meet the San Francisco Ballet dozen of ‘Unbound: A Festival of New Works’," 6 Apr. 2018

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

An exemplary etymology

Since the 1500s, exemplary has been used in English for things deserving imitation. The word (and its close relatives example and exemplify) derives from the Latin noun exemplum, which means "example." Usage commentators have sometimes warned against using exemplary as if it were simply a synonym of excellent, but clear-cut instances of such usage are hard to come by. When exemplary describes something excellent, as it often does, it almost always carries the further suggestion that the thing described is worthy of imitation.