Word
archetypal
Phoneticsar·che·typ·al
US/ˈɑɹkˈtaɪpəɫ/
UK/ˌɑːkɪtˈaɪpəl/
Definition
adj. representing a perfect or classic example of a type. You use this to describe something that is so typical of a group that it feels like a model for others.
adj. representing a perfect or classic example of a type; serving as a model or prototype. Often used to describe characters, situations, or objects that embody a specific cultural or psychological pattern.
Examples
“The hero is an archetypal figure in many stories.”
“The old library is an archetypal example of a Victorian building with its high ceilings and heavy wooden furniture.”
“The protagonist serves as an archetypal representation of the modern wanderer, embodying the universal desire for freedom and the simultaneous fear of the unknown.”
Examples
simple
“The hero is an archetypal figure in many stories.”
contextual
“The old library is an archetypal example of a Victorian building with its high ceilings and heavy wooden furniture.”
complex
“The protagonist serves as an archetypal representation of the modern wanderer, embodying the universal desire for freedom and the simultaneous fear of the unknown.”
Real-World Examples
“This is the man who made Double Indemnity, the archetypal film noir and the genre’s zenith, a film often imitated but never equalled.” “Its clients included the Royal African Company and the South Sea Company.”
An archetypal example of a Bank of England director in the register is John Rudge, the MP for Evesham .” Etymology
From archetype + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/archetypal