Exemplary

WORD OF THE DAY


exemplary \ig-ZEM-pluh-ree \ adjective


Definition
1a : deserving imitation especially because of excellence
1b: commendable


2a : serving as a warning
2b: monitory


3 : serving as an example, instance, or illustration


Examples
Members of the community who have demonstrated exemplary public service will be honored at the ceremony.


"Since 1962, Big Blue's Fellows program annually honors exemplary technologists, researchers and scientists within the company."
— The Poughkeepsie (New York) Journal, 25 Apr. 2016


Did You Know?
Since the 1500s, exemplary has been used in English for things deserving imitation. The word (and its close relatives example and exemplify) derives from the Latin noun exemplum, which means "example."
Usage commentators have sometimes warned against using exemplary as if it were simply a synonym of excellent, but clear-cut instances of such usage are hard to come by. When exemplary describes something excellent, as it often does, it almost always carries the further suggestion that the thing described is worthy of imitation.