exemplary

[ ig-zem-pluh-ree, eg-zuhm-pler-ee ]

adjective

1. worthy of imitation; commendable:

   exemplary conduct.

   Synonyms: praiseworthy, noteworthy, laudable

2. serving as a warning:

   an exemplary penalty.

3. serving as an illustration or specimen; illustrative; typical:

   The sentences read are exemplary of the style of the essay as a whole.

4. serving as a model or pattern:

   The authoritative and exemplary text of the work is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.

5. of, relating to, or composed of exempla, or examples or models:

   the exemplary literature of the medieval period.

exemplary

/ ɪɡˈzɛmplərɪ /

adjective

1. fit for imitation; model

   an exemplary performance

2. serving as a warning; admonitory

   an exemplary jail sentence

3. representative; typical

   an action exemplary of his conduct

Derived Forms

• exˈemplarily, adverb
• exˈemplariness, noun

Other Words From

• ex·empla·ri·ly adverb
• ex·empla·ri·ness ex·em·plar·i·ty [eg-z, uh, m-, plar, -i-tee], noun
• nonex·empla·ry adjective
• unex·empla·ry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exemplary¹

First recorded in 1400–50, for the earlier sense “model, exemplar”; 1580–90 exemplary fordef 1; late Middle English (noun), from Latin exemplāris, from exempl(um) exemplum + -āris -ary

Example Sentences

The letter acknowledges that “there is additional work to do,” but says the judiciary already “has in place the protections and mechanisms to provide for an exemplary workplace.”

From Washington Post

The greater percentage of your profits go to bureaucratic necessities, without much of a reward system for exemplary practices or motivation to stay small and focused on boutique craft cannabis.

From Nautilus

The company released their line of Dingbat pedalboards in 2017, and their medium size is an exemplary model of the best their design has to offer.

From Popular-Science

The Outstanding Video Game Award — which saw twice the usual number of nominees this year — is exemplary of that progress.

From Digiday

Though densely populated, the state had become exemplary in how it controlled the spread of coronavirus infections since March 2020.

From Quartz

They are model citizens, the kind of people whose lives might be used as exemplary stories by a politician in a stump speech.

From The Daily Beast

It was descriptive, prescriptive, and exemplary in its clarity.

From The Daily Beast

Deacon Jones, 74 David D. Jones was an exemplary defensive end in the NFL.

From The Daily Beast

And, indeed, the 777 has had an exemplary safety record—with nearly 1,500 777s delivered, not a single passenger has died in one.

From The Daily Beast

Mitt Romney is that rare person who seems to have exemplary personal character.

From The Daily Beast

Mary was on the contrary so far subdued, as to be exemplary in goodness and diligence, and Blanche was always steady.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever might have been their faults, or even their crimes, in other countries, in these their conduct had been exemplary.

From Project Gutenberg

Dorothy bore it all with exemplary patience, and resumed her work in such spirits, that she sang from the very joy of her heart.

From Project Gutenberg

Exemplary punishment is to be visited upon me for "precocious godlessness, dangerous tendencies, and insubordination."

From Project Gutenberg

Nor had the conduct of these veteran soldiers been less exemplary in their quarters than in the field.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admirable
• commendable
• estimable
• excellent
• honorable
• laudable
• meritorious
• sterling
• typical