exemplary

exemplary — adjective

1. of such outstanding quality that other people or things can serve as a model wor

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

of such outstanding quality that other people or things can serve as a model worth copying

Example

Abigail received a special award for her exemplary work ethic and dedication to the team.

exemplary + noun (work ethic, dedication)

The charity was praised for providing exemplary care to elderly residents in the community.

Common collocations
  • exemplary service
  • exemplary behaviour
  • exemplary conduct
  • exemplary work
  • exemplary care
  • exemplary record
  • truly exemplary
  • absolutely exemplary
Synonyms
  • model

    used attributively ('model student') — slightly less formal than exemplary

  • ideal

    focuses on perfection rather than serving as a pattern for others

  • outstanding

    emphasises being exceptionally good, but does not necessarily imply being a model for others to copy

  • commendable

    focuses on praiseworthiness; weaker than exemplary

Antonyms
  • poor

    low quality, not worth imitating

  • mediocre

    average, nothing special

Grammar Patterns

exemplary + noun

be exemplary

Usage Note

This sense is used to praise someone's behaviour, work, or service as being of the highest standard. It is stronger than simply saying 'good' or 'excellent' — it implies that others should follow the same example.

Common Mistakes

He did an exemplary job on the test — he got a passing grade.
He did an exemplary job on the test
he achieved the highest score in the class.' — 'exemplary' means outstanding enough to be a model, not just passable or good.
The restaurant serves exemplary food — it is okay but nothing special.
The restaurant serves exemplary food
every dish is beautifully prepared and presented.' — The word implies top quality worth copying, not average quality.

2. unusually severe and intended to discourage other people from committing the sam

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

unusually severe and intended to discourage other people from committing the same offence or wrongdoing

Example

The judge handed down an exemplary sentence to send a clear message that street racing would not be tolerated.

exemplary + sentence/punishment/damages

A court in Ireland ordered the company to pay exemplary damages equal to three times the actual loss.

Common collocations
  • exemplary damages
  • exemplary punishment
  • exemplary sentence
  • exemplary fine
Synonyms
  • deterrent

    can be a noun or adjective; focuses on prevention rather than severity

  • severe

    lacks the 'serving as a warning' element; purely about harshness

  • punitive

    focuses on punishment itself, not necessarily its deterrent effect on others

Grammar Patterns

exemplary + punishment/damages/sentence

Usage Note

This sense is mainly used in legal or disciplinary contexts. The most common noun collocates are 'damages', 'punishment', 'sentence', and 'fine'. The purpose is always deterrence — to warn the general public, not just to punish the offender.

Common Mistakes

The teacher gave an exemplary detention to the student who was late.
The teacher gave an exemplary detention to the student who cheated on the exam, hoping it would discourage others from doing the same.
A minor punishment for a minor offence does not fit this sense; the punishment must be severe enough to serve as a public deterrent.

3. showing what is typical or characteristic of a larger group, category, or situat

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

showing what is typical or characteristic of a larger group, category, or situation

Example

This small fishing village is an exemplary case of how coastal communities adapt to changing weather patterns.

exemplary case / example of

Amani's study provides an exemplary analysis of the challenges that first-generation students face at university.

Common collocations
  • exemplary case
  • exemplary example
  • exemplary instance
  • exemplary of
  • exemplary illustration
Synonyms
  • typical

    more common and less formal; does not carry the implication of illustrating something clearly

  • representative

    focuses on standing for a larger group rather than serving as an illustration

  • illustrative

    emphasises the explanatory or clarifying function

Antonyms
  • atypical

    not representative of the category

  • unusual

    rare or exceptional, not typical

Grammar Patterns

exemplary + noun

be exemplary of + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is less common than the first two. It is used in academic, analytical, or descriptive writing to point out something that represents a broader category well. It often appears in the pattern 'be exemplary of [something]'.

Common Mistakes

This one example is exemplary of all birds.
This species is exemplary of tropical forest birds that depend on fruit for food.
The usage should specify a meaningful generalisation, not an absolute statement about all members of a category.

Word family

  • example
    nounA2
  • exemplify
    verbB2
  • exemplification
    nounC1
  • exemplar
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These four words all praise high quality, but they differ in what they emphasise. 'Exemplary' (the strongest) means so good that others should copy you — it carries a teaching or modelling element that the others lack. 'Model' (used attributively, e.g. 'a model student') is similar in spirit but less formal. 'Ideal' focuses on perfection or fitting an abstract standard: an ideal candidate is perfectly suited, not necessarily a role model for others. 'Outstanding' simply means exceptionally good — without implying any duty to imitate. 'Commendable' is the weakest: it means worthy of praise but not necessarily remarkable. For instance, a teacher might say 'Your effort is commendable' to a struggling student, but 'Your essay is exemplary' only to the top performer whose work will be shown to the class.

model ↗ideal ↗outstanding ↗commendable

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • exemplary damages
  • make an exemplary example of someone

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'exemplary' comes from the Latin 'exemplum', meaning 'example, sample, or pattern'. The suffix '-ary' (from Latin '-arius') turns the noun into an adjective meaning 'relating to or serving as'. It entered English through Old French in the 16th century, first used to describe something that serves as a model or pattern. The sense of 'serving as a warning' (sense 2) developed later in legal contexts.