exemplars
Standards to emulate
Exemplars are models or examples worthy of imitation—ideal instances that others should follow or measure against.
A teacher might hold up a student's essay as an exemplar of clear argumentation.
The word carries more weight than simple "example," implying excellence: These buildings stand as exemplars of modernist architecture.
In philosophy and cognitive science, an exemplar is a specific remembered instance used to categorize new experiences.
Flawless model to emulate
- epitomePerfect representative of type
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
- perfectionAbsence of any fault
acme · archetype · model · nonpareil · exemplification · embodiment · apotheosis · beau ideal
First or inventive
- templatePreset pattern for reproduction
- blueprintDetailed technical drawing
- precursorSomething that comes first
- forerunnerOne that comes before
pattern · master · first · pilot · sample · specimen · test case · proof of concept
Thirty-six-inch ruler
- gaugeStandard of measurement
- criterionStandard for judgment
- measureUnit of quantity
- standardLevel of quality accepted
baseline · metric · indicator · reference · touchstone · barometer · test · comparison
One admired for courage
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
pioneer · luminary · leader · champion · guiding light · pathfinder · influencer · figurehead
Subset for study
- instanceSingle occurrence of something
- caseContainer or instance
- illustrationPicture explaining something
- representativeOne who acts for another
type · demonstration · exhibit · case study · instantiation · occurrence · particular · individual
paragon
Flawless model to emulate
- epitomePerfect representative of type
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
perfection · acme · archetype · model · nonpareil · exemplification · embodiment · apotheosis · beau ideal · consummate
original
First or inventive
- templatePreset pattern for reproduction
- blueprintDetailed technical drawing
- precursorSomething that comes first
forerunner · pattern · master · first · pilot · sample · specimen · test case · proof of concept · trial
yardstick
Thirty-six-inch ruler
standard · baseline · metric · indicator · reference · touchstone · barometer · test · comparison · threshold
hero
One admired for courage
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
trailblazer · pioneer · luminary · leader · champion · guiding light · pathfinder · influencer · figurehead · predecessor
sample
Subset for study
- instanceSingle occurrence of something
- caseContainer or instance
- illustrationPicture explaining something
representative · type · demonstration · exhibit · case study · instantiation · occurrence · particular · individual · showcase
- Exemplarsparagons, role models, ideals, gold standards, benchmarks
- rubricsrubrics, grading rubric, scoring rubric, scoring guide, rating scale
- conceptscategorization, typicality, abstraction, generalization, family resemblance
- forensic documentsdocument fraud, handwriting analysis, signature verification, forged documents, alterations
- textual criticismcritical apparatus, collation, emendation, recension, variant
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
exemplarscautionary tales
Stories conveying warnings
warnings · counterexamples · pariahs · disgraces · object lessons
exemplarsoutliers
Extreme data points
anomalies · exceptions · aberrations · deviations · oddities
- exemplary serviceAssistance worthy of imitation