Definition of ARCHETYPE (original) (raw)
1
: the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype
… the House of Commons, the archetype of all the representative assemblies which now meet …—
Thomas Babington Macaulay
also : a perfect example
He is the archetype of a successful businessman.
3
psychology : an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual
archetypal
adjective
or less commonly archetypical
an archetypal English village
archetypally
adverb
or less commonly archetypically
Did you know?
Archetype comes from the Greek verb archein ("to begin" or "to rule") and the noun typos ("type"). Archetype has specific uses in the fields of philosophy and psychology. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato, for example, believed that all things have ideal forms (aka archetypes) of which real things are merely shadows or copies. And in the psychology of C. G. Jung, archetype refers to an inherited idea or mode of thought that is present in the unconscious of the individual. In everyday prose, however, archetype is most commonly used to mean "a perfect example of something."
Synonyms
Examples of archetype in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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The night will be hosted by Aldis Hodge—yes, the star and producer of Prime Video’s Cross and an actor who’s been steadily redefining Hollywood’s leading man archetype. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 28 Jan. 2025 For both, the conflict is structured around the opposition between angelic character and sorceress/witch archetype. —Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 26 Jan. 2025 And a corduroy suit, a men’s wear archetype about as old as Zegna itself, slouched like a nubbly bathrobe. —Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025 Monica, a doctor, filled the bad-girl archetype on the show, and Charleson loved playing her. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for archetype 
Word History
Etymology
Latin archetypum, from Greek archetypon, from neuter of archetypos archetypal, from archein + typos type
First Known Use
1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of archetype was in 1545
Dictionary Entries Near archetype
Cite this Entry
“Archetype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archetype. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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