archetype
A very clear example of a type of person or thing.
A person or thing that is a perfect or typical example of a particular type.
The first model that others are based on.
An original model or pattern from which later versions are developed or copied.
A common type of character in stories.
A repeatedly used character type in stories, such as the hero, the mentor, or the villain.
In psychology, a universal idea or image that many people share.
In Jungian psychology, an inherited universal image or pattern of thought that appears across cultures and influences feelings and behavior.
In programming, a ready-made project pattern you can start from.
In software development, a packaged project template used to generate a new project with a standard structure and settings.
- Base: archetype
- Plural: archetypes
a classic archetype
1a well-known typical type
A very common and familiar type.
- The story uses a classic archetype: the underdog who proves everyone wrong.
- The charming thief is a classic archetype in heist movies.
- She disliked the ad because it relied on classic archetypes instead of real people.
- The hero is a classic archetype.
character archetype
1recurring type of character
A common type of character in stories.
- The class discussed how each character archetype functions in the plot.
- The game lets you choose a character archetype, like warrior or healer.
- She wrote a villain who starts as a character archetype but becomes more complex.
- The mentor is a character archetype.
jungian archetype
1universal pattern in Jung’s theory
In Jung’s psychology, a universal idea or image shared across cultures.
- The essay explains the mother as a Jungian archetype found in myths worldwide.
- She mapped the dream symbols onto several Jungian archetypes.
- The course introduced Jungian archetypes like the shadow and the trickster.
the archetype of [something]
1the most typical example
Used to mean “a perfect example of something.”
- He’s the archetype of the demanding boss.
- That scene is the archetype of a classic romantic comedy moment.
- For many readers, Sherlock Holmes is the archetype of the brilliant detective.
- She is the archetype of a good friend.
the hero archetype
1the typical hero pattern
A very common way to write a hero.
- The novel follows the hero archetype, from the call to adventure to the final return.
- The director deliberately avoided the hero archetype and made the protagonist morally uncertain.
- Many superhero films rely heavily on the hero archetype.
- This movie uses the hero archetype.
the trickster archetype
1rule-breaking clever figure
A common story character who tricks others and breaks rules.
- In many folktales, the fox represents the trickster archetype.
- The character embodies the trickster archetype, constantly bending rules to reveal hypocrisy.
- The show uses the trickster archetype to create chaos and push the plot forward.