exemplary

/ɪɡˈzempləri/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪɡˈzempləri/ (ame, ipa) · /ig-ˈzem-plə-rē/ (ame, mw)

exemplary — adjective

  • exemplarypositive
  • more exemplarycomparative
  • most exemplarysuperlative

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

1.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • poor

    low quality, not worth imitating

  • mediocre

    average, nothing special

文法句型

exemplary + noun

be exemplary

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞C1
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

exemplary + punishment/damages/sentence

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞C1
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • atypical

    not representative of the category

  • unusual

    rare or exceptional, not typical

文法句型

exemplary + noun

be exemplary of + noun phrase

用法筆記

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]'.

常見錯誤

❌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.