Main Entry:: ¹ex·am·ple
Pronunciation:: \ig-ˈzam-pəl\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French essample, example, from Latin exemplum, from eximere to take out, from ex- + emere to take — more at redeem
Date:: 14th century

1: one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated <a good example> <a bad example>2: a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others; also : an individual so punished3: one (as an item or incident) that is representative of all of a group or type4: a parallel or closely similar case especially when serving as a precedent or model5: an instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule

synonyms see instance, model

— for example

\fər-ig-ˈzam-pəl, frig-\

: as an example <there are many sources of air pollution; exhaust fumes, for example>

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