Meaning & Definition of word "Archetype"
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Archetype
/ˈɑːrkɪtaɪp/
noun:
- 1. A typical example of a certain person or thing.
- Example: The detective in the novel was an archetype of the hard-boiled crime fighter.
- 2. An original model or pattern from which other things are copied or developed.
- Example: The architect's design was considered an archetype for modern urban buildings.
- 3. In psychology, an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the shared experience of humanity.
- Example: Carl Jung proposed that archetypes exist in the collective unconscious of all humans.
Etymology
From Greek 'archētypos', meaning 'from the beginning' or 'original'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
hero archetype:
A universal symbol representing the hero in stories across cultures.
archetypal image:
A common motif or theme that represents a certain idea or character.
Related Words
stereotype:
A widely held but oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
model:
A standard or example for imitation or comparison.
Slang Meanings of archetype
Meaning: A typical or common person in a specific context.
Example Sentence: He's such an archetype of a hipster.
Meaning: An embodiment of a particular trait or characteristic.
Example Sentence: That character in the movie is the archetype of a tech geek.