Exemplary

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪɡˈzɛmpləɹi/

Definitions

1. Functioning as a paragon of excellence and virtue in conduct or quality
2. Being worthy of imitation due to outstanding quality or behavior
3. Representing an ideal example that others might strive to match

Etymology: Exemplary began as a word for copies rather than for praise. The Latin "exemplum" meant a sample, a model, or a transcript, and "exemplaris" was the adjective built from it, so something exemplary was once simply something serving as a pattern to be copied. Middle English took the word in the 15th century, and its sense of a model worth following grew naturally out of that idea of a pattern. The word is a doublet of "exemplar," which came into English from the same Latin roots but kept the older sense of a model or a standard copy. Exemplary took on the moral sense of a person or action deserving imitation, while exemplar kept the noun meaning of an ideal specimen. The two words split a single Latin inheritance between them.

Synonyms: commendable, admirable, model, outstanding, noteworthy

Antonyms: unacceptable, unworthy, deplorable, inferior, shameful