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 Their interpretations of the witch archetype keep the classic Halloween costume relevant and enduring. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026 He is surrounded by a parade of savvier comic archetypes — from his urbane, happily rational brother, Beralde (Dylan Baker), to his smart-aleck maid, Toinette (Rachel Bloom, giving eternal side-eye) — who have to either evade or manipulate him. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026 In fact, the Academy Award–winner made a name for herself by portraying women who worked their way up in the world, which proved a winning archetype among Depression-era American audiences. — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026 The character would prove eerily prescient, anticipating an archetype that would take shape in the decades to come. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 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
  • The real treasure here is the little fixes and updates that make this masterpiece play better on modern hardware than the original.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Both franchises were American Football League originals, although each has a new nickname these days.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of original
Noun
  • The not unappealing gridded face is divided into much larger elements than Mies’ forerunner across the street.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • He is revered in the Christian church as the forerunner of Jesus.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • Lockheed Martin experts and engineers are using data from previous flights to skip repetitive qualification testing, rather than treating every Orion capsule as an unproven prototype.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Musk unveiled a prototype of the Roadster last month that was capable of hovering off the ground and driving upside down.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of prototype
Noun
  • Throughout the region, remains of 5,500 ancestors that were displaced have been made available for return to the Tohono O’odham Nation, according to ProPublica’s NAGPRA database.
    — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Today, this Chilean territory is essentially an open-air archaeological museum, with many of its enigmatic moai (representations of Polynesian ancestors) returned to their upright positions following seven decades of restoration.
    — Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of ancestor
Noun
  • But the investigative onslaught is also a source of tension for Democrats, with many warning that delivering on their central promise to voters -- actions to lower the cost of living -- must take precedence.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • With Chow stepping aside, the search for a new co-chair alongside DiCaprio is already underway, according to a source.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of source
Noun
  • People with Down syndrome carried an extra copy of the gene for the amyloid precursor protein.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The company says its indigo process uses soluble precursors that oxidize into insoluble pigment within the textile, avoiding the chemical reduction step used in conventional indigo dyeing.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on archetype

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archetype

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