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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of archetype
From the moment the sun enters this Air sign — a zodiac archetype associated with rebellion, progress and social consciousness — the collective mood shifts from quiet endurance (Capricorn) to radical awareness (Aquarius).
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The siblings, in other words, fit different Hollywood archetypes.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Like a dream The Wiz and Dorothy are canonically different generations, and Mingo and Cimone as actors fit that archetype, too.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
For many, the clearest archetype begins with Jackie Kennedy, whose style was immaculate and influential, yet ultimately bound to her role as the supporting spouse of a president.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The siblings, in other words, fit different Hollywood archetypes.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Like a dream The Wiz and Dorothy are canonically different generations, and Mingo and Cimone as actors fit that archetype, too.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
For many, the clearest archetype begins with Jackie Kennedy, whose style was immaculate and influential, yet ultimately bound to her role as the supporting spouse of a president.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for archetype
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archetype
Noun
-
Kicking yourself doesn’t really do any good, so the next best thing to do is find a worthy replacement that not only has a similar style, but also captures the same charm as grandma’s originals.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2026
-
National Archives and Records Administration The exhibit features a number of historic papers, including an original engraving of the Declaration of Independence, printed from a copperplate of the original.—
Anna Alejo,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Manufactured between 1960 and 1980, Scouts were beefy 4x4s and a forerunner to the SUV.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
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With little support for the WHO among Republicans — who control both the House and the Senate — there has been no push from Congress to hold the country to the provision set out by their forerunners.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to Severin Stadler, Head of R&D at Magna, the simulator enables chassis and tyre tuning long before prototypes exist.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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Launched at the Expo 2025 Osaka last year, what seemed like a pipe dream destined for a 2050 debut, is now expected to have a prototype ready decades ahead of schedule—with the first edition to launch in just four years.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There’s an urge to reconnect with our heritage, and people are undertaking ancestry pilgrimages, combining boots-on-the-ground investigation into family trees and searching for documents in town halls, with discovering the places our ancestors used to call home.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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So much of these online spaces, social media in particular, are created for community; inside of them, the primary medium is storytelling, and often the same stories are repeated or mimicked, recreating the oral storytelling tradition of our ancestors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Venezuela was hardly an impartial source; nor was OPEC, of which Caracas was a founding member and to which the new numbers were officially reported.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Later, sources told CNN the Justice Department stopped investigating the agent and federal authorities refused to share information with local investigators.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As Ars Technica reports, space startup Vast has opted to build a smaller and more feasible interim station, dubbed Haven-1, which will serve as the precursor for much larger outposts capable of continuous habitation in the more distant future.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
22 Jan. 2026
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The history of whiskey (also known as whisky) is commonly thought to have begun in the Middle Ages, but Robinson goes all the way back to the Neolithic era and the precursor of what would evolve into the pot still, and forward to the present day.—
Tony Sachs,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archetype. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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