object lesson

noun

1. a practical or concrete illustration of a principle.

object lesson

noun

1. a convincing demonstration of some principle or ideal
2. (esp formerly) a lesson in which a material object forms the basis of the teaching and is available to be inspected

Word History and Origins

Origin of object lesson¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

But it’s actually more like an object lesson, or a warning to those who insist that whatever else may go wrong, a stable and established liberal democracy cannot collapse into chaos, dictatorship or civil war.

From Salon

Put it all together, and the Boeing story looks like an object lesson in what happens when management takes its eye off the ball — or more precisely, puts it eye on the wrong ball.

From Los Angeles Times

South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, is an object lesson in the conflict between two competing theories of how we should think about racism in America today.

From Seattle Times

His remarks were meant as an object lesson.

From New York Times

As the kids grew older, she said, the business became a source of pride, and an object lesson in loyalty, endurance.

From Seattle Times