Definitions for example
ɪgˈzæm pəl, -ˈzɑm-ex·am·ple

Princeton's WordNet(2.55 / 13 votes)Rate this definition:

1. example, illustration, instance, representativenoun

   an item of information that is typical of a class or group

   "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10"

2. model, examplenoun

   a representative form or pattern

   "I profited from his example"

3. exemplar, example, model, good examplenoun

   something to be imitated

   "an exemplar of success"; "a model of clarity"; "he is the very model of a modern major general"

4. example, deterrent example, lesson, object lessonnoun

   punishment intended as a warning to others

   "they decided to make an example of him"

5. case, instance, examplenoun

   an occurrence of something

   "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths"

6. exercise, examplenoun

   a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding

   "you must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook"

Wiktionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. examplenoun

   Something that is representative of all such things in a group.

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

2. examplenoun

   Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

3. examplenoun

   Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

4. examplenoun

   A person punished as a warning to others.

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

5. examplenoun

   A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model.

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

6. examplenoun

   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.

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

7. exampleverb

   To be illustrated or exemplified (by)

   Etymology: From example, from essample (French: exemple), from exemplum, from eximo, from ex + emo; see exempt. Compare ensample, sample, exemplar. Displaced native Middle English bisne, forbus (from Old English bisen, forebisen) and Middle English byspel (from Old English bispel).

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Examplenoun

   one or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the whole; a sample; a specimen

2. Examplenoun

   that which is to be followed or imitated as a model; a pattern or copy

3. Examplenoun

   that which resembles or corresponds with something else; a precedent; a model

4. Examplenoun

   that which is to be avoided; one selected for punishment and to serve as a warning; a warning

5. Examplenoun

   an instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept, especially a problem to be solved, or a case to be determined, as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science; as, in trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules are illustrated by examples

6. Exampleverb

   to set an example for; to give a precedent for; to exemplify; to give an instance of; to instance

Freebase(3.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. example

   The name example is reserved by the Internet Engineering Task Force in RFC 2606 as a domain name that may not be installed as a top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Example

   egz-am′pl, n. that which is taken as a specimen of the rest, or as an illustration of the rule, &c.: the person or thing to be imitated or avoided: a pattern: a warning: a former instance.—v.t. to exemplify: to instance.—n. Exam′plar, a pattern, model.—adj. Exam′plary, serving for an example. [O. Fr.,—L. exemplum—eximĕre, to take out—ex, out of, emĕre, emptum, to take.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. example

   A group of words in an online dictionary created to show the contextual understanding of a word or term.

   This definition is to show the contextual understanding of the intention of the definition.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 21, 2020  

2. example

   A type of document or template.

   The example document is simple enough to share.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2020  

Suggested Resources(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. example

   Song lyrics by example -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by example on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Lesson
   • Representation

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'example' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #794

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'example' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1007

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'example' in Nouns Frequency: #191

Anagrams for example »

1. exempla

How to pronounce example?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say example in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of example in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of example in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of example in a Sentence

1. Ezequiel Barrenechea:

   All these things were difficult, believe me, but it was a pleasure. The final result of this is a project that's unique and an example for all of the world.

2. Josefina Vidal:

   In our view it's not necessary to put it all in one package because if, for example, in a few weeks we receive some satisfactory notification in regards to the matter of Cuba's removal from the terrorist list, I think we will be ready to then begin talking about how to formalize the re-establishing of relations.

3. Guenther Bachman:

   We need new indicators, for example for imports of sustainable goods that have been made without exploiting workers, so we can ask the right questions about who we do trade with.

4. Zev Wainberg:

   It's very bidirectional, for example, are these patients who have pancreatic cancer developing diabetes as a result of their cancer, or vice versa ? Nobody is entirely sure.

5. Roger Bacon:

   There are in fact four very significant stumblingblocks in the way of grasping the truth, which hinder every man however learned, and scarcely allow anyone to win a clear title to wisdom, namely, the example of weak and unworthy authority, longstanding custom, the feeling of the ignorant crowd, and the hiding of our own ignorance while making a display of our apparent knowledge.

Images & Illustrations of example

Popularity rank by frequency of use