Ideotypic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A description of an ideal representation that showcases the essential qualities of a specific type or concept is provided
2. Expressing the perfect or archetypal characteristics of a category or class
3. Depicting a concept by embodying its most fundamental and exemplary traits

Etymology: "Ideotypic" is simply "ideo-" joined to "-typic," and both pieces do most of the work. The prefix "ideo-" comes from the Greek "idea," meaning a form or notion, and it turns up in English words such as "ideology" and "ideogram." The suffix "-typic" comes from the Greek "typos," meaning a blow, impression or mould, which also gave us "type." Put together, the word describes something shaped to match a model or pattern of its kind. In practice, the term is used in plant breeding and related fields, where it refers to a model plant or type that embodies the qualities a breeder is aiming for. Its meaning therefore sits close to "ideal type," a concept that describes the purest or most representative example of a category.

Synonyms: ideal, typical, model, exemplar, representative

Antonyms: atypical, nonideal, imperfect, deviant, aberrant