# example

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl/ · frequency rank #540

## Definitions
1. Something that is representative of all such things in a group.
2. Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.
3. Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).
4. A person punished as a warning to others.
5. A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model.
6. An instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate the rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rule.

## Etymology
From Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).

## Easily confused with
- **examples** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/example-vs-examples)
- **examine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/examine-vs-example)

## Common misspellings (10)
`eaxmple`, `examlpe`, `exammple`, `exampel`, `examplle`, `exampple`, `exapmle`, `exmaple`, `exxample`, `xeample`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/example