archetypal.

Representing a basic pattern or especially clear example of a familiar type.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• archetypal hero
• archetypal example

On the page

The tale presents the wanderer as an archetypal outsider.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Normally non-gradable; no ordinary comparative or superlative. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: interpretation. Commonness: moderately common.