archetype

noun

ˈär-ki-ˌtīp How to pronounce archetype (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Perhaps that’s why the pair has striven to create fresh archetypes. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 But this type of [toxic] female figure is a widespread archetype even in other places and parts of the world. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 The choices come first in a three-card pack that is themed around a specific archetype such as destroy, move or ramp. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 In terms of player archetype, Everhart could be considered a gadget-type player who can be used in the backfield, at slot and on special teams. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
  1. original
  2. forerunner
  3. prototype
  4. ancestor
  5. source
  6. precursor
Noun
  • Joey King plays Sally’s other daughter, Kylie, while Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the spell-casting sisters from the 1998 original.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Manifest creator Jeff Rake is teaming with Margaret Easley and Laura Putney, writers and co-executive producers on the original, for Arrivals.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of original
Noun
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • Engineers have assembled a prototype air-cooling rig to test the passive safety systems.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Commercial platforms, logical qubits, error-correction techniques, quantum sensing systems, networking prototypes, photonic architectures, and hybrid quantum-classical systems are moving from theory to more practical use.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of prototype
Noun
  • Its rise also marks the beginning of the Hindu celebration of Pitru Paksha, during which worshippers perform rites to honor ancestors by offering prayers and food to past members of their families.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • While Qingming focuses primarily on one’s own ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival extends offerings to wandering spirits and the unclaimed dead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of ancestor
Noun
  • The San Diego Padres will call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas when rosters expand Tuesday, a team source told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • From February through July 2026, ELG exceeded its plan by approximately $400 million of gross merchandise value, sources said.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of source
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Iran and Oman were discussing a joint temporary shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz and mind clearing mission, a precursor to a permanent arrangement to administer the waterway.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This can be a precursor to doing heel-to-toe walking and can build confidence in someone’s ability to stay upright.
    — Connie Etermadi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of precursor

Browse Nearby Words

archetypal
archetype
archetypes
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Cite this Entry

“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on archetype

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archetype

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