I. ig-ˈzam-pəl noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French essample, example, from Latin exemplum, from eximere to take out, from ex- + emere to take — more at redeem
Date: 14th century
1. : one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated
a good example
a bad example
2. : a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others ; also : an individual so punished
3. : one (as an item or incident) that is representative of all of a group or type
4. : a parallel or closely similar case especially when serving as a precedent or model
5. : an instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule
Synonyms: see instance , model
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- for example
II. transitive verb
( ex·am·pled ; ex·am·pling -p(ə-)liŋ)
Date: 15th century
1. : to serve as an example of
2. archaic : to be or set an example to