typical

[ tip-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of the nature of or serving as a type or representative specimen.

   Synonyms: usual, stock, average, normal

2. conforming to a particular type.
3. Biology. exemplifying most nearly the essential characteristics of a higher group in natural history, and forming the type:

   the typical genus of a family.

4. characteristic or distinctive:

   He has the mannerisms typical of his class.

5. pertaining to, of the nature of, or serving as a type or emblem; symbolic.

typical

/ ˈtɪpɪkəl /

adjective

1. being or serving as a representative example of a particular type; characteristic

   the painting is a typical Rembrandt

2. considered to be an example of some undesirable trait

   that is typical of you!

3. of or relating to a representative specimen or type
4. conforming to a type
5. biology having most of the characteristics of a particular taxonomic group

   a typical species of a genus

Derived Forms

• ˈtypicalness, noun
• ˈtypically, adverb

Other Words From

• typ·i·cal·ly adverb
• typ·i·cal·ness typ·i·cal·i·ty [tip-i-, kal, -i-tee], noun
• non·typ·i·cal adjective
• non·typ·i·cal·ness noun
• qua·si-typ·i·cal adjective
• un·typ·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of typical¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin typicālis, equivalent to Late Latin typic(us) (from Greek typikós, equivalent to týp(os) type + -ikos -ic ) + Latin -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of typical¹

C17: from Medieval Latin typicālis, from Late Latin typicus figurative, from Greek tupikos, from tupos type

Example Sentences

To scholars of authoritarianism, asserting a high degree of personal control over the military is typical of global strongmen in the mold of Syria’s Bashar Assad or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

From Los Angeles Times

And they should finance more than the typical 30% to 50% of affordable and supportive projects, which tends to leave developers spending years cobbling together the rest of the financing from other sources.

From Los Angeles Times

The other Cabinet officials chosen so far have been typical Trump toadies and henchmen: Former congressman John Ratcliffe, who was acting director of national intelligence under Trump, will lead the CIA; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will take over DHS; and former Rep. Lee Zeldin will be EPA chief.

From Salon

Their debut album, Stereo Typical, which came three years after the group formed in Brighton in 2008, sold more than 600,000 copies.

From BBC

The environment of a typical studio is quieter and more intimate than a bustling gym.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classic
• common
• commonplace
• emblematic
• exemplary
• natural
• normal
• ordinary
• quintessential
• regular
• symbolic