What does "example" mean?
Something that is representative of all such things in a group.
Example
/ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Something that is representative of all such things in a group.
- Grammar: example is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: exemplar, case, exercise, illustration.
- Useful contrasts: actual assignment, educational concept, catha.
- Usage evidence: If you know that something unpleasant will happen, that you will go to the dentist for example, or to France, then that is not good.
How to use "example"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "example" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "example" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "example" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "example" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "example" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "exemplar" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "example", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Something that is representative of all such things in a group.
"If Demandt's essay served as a strident example of the German desire for normalcy, a more subtle example was provided by a brief allohistorical depiction of a Nazi victory in World War II written by German historian Michael Salewski in 1999."
- 2 a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding wordnet
- 3 Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.
"Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, […]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe."
- 4 an item of information that is typical of a class or group wordnet
- 5 Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).
"Nelson Mandela was an example for many to follow."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 something to be imitated wordnet
- 7 A person punished as a warning to others.
"[…]hang him, hee'le be made an example."
- 8 a representative form or pattern wordnet
- 9 A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model.
"Such temperate order in ſo fierce a cauſe, / Doth want example:[…]"
- 10 punishment intended as a warning to others wordnet
- 11 An instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate the rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rule.
- 12 an occurrence of something wordnet
Verb
- 1 To be illustrated or exemplified (by).
Antonyms
Example
"If you know that something unpleasant will happen, that you will go to the dentist for example, or to France, then that is not good."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "example"?
Common synonyms include: exemplar, case, exercise, illustration, instance, model.
How do you use "example" in a sentence?
If you know that something unpleasant will happen, that you will go to the dentist for example, or to France, then that is not good.
How do you pronounce "example"?
Pronounced /ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl/.
Etymology
From Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).
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