/ ɪgˈzempləri; NAmE / adjective
1.
providing a good example for people to copy :
Her behaviour was exemplary.
a man of exemplary character
2.
[ usually before noun ] ( law or formal ) ( of punishment ) severe; used especially as a warning to others
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from late Latin exemplaris , from Latin exemplum sample, imitation, from eximere take out, from ex- out + emere take.