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
  • He is revered in the Christian church as the forerunner of Jesus.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Koslow’s screen career began in 1976 as the writer of the film Lifeguard, a ’70s-era Baywatch forerunner starring a hunky Sam Elliott and Anne Archer.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • The work demonstrates microbial coloration on garments at prototype scale, with one cape produced per batch.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The prototype spacecraft generated an AI response from orbit using Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs).
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 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
  • Planners still regarded the district as an important source of industrial jobs even as vacant lofts were filling with artists using them in new ways still prohibited by the laws on the books.
    — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Deadline spoke exclusively to a source close to the filmmaker, and this will not impact start of production on that sequel to the classic crime thriller, Deadline understands.
    — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 1 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on archetype

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archetype

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