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the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.
(in jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.
contemporary examples

ask a liberal to describe a “crazy republican,” and their description is likely to fit one of two archetypes.
the craziest town hall ever maureen o’connor september 25, 2009

hardy describes a world of complex rules, rituals, and archetypes.
man’s only friend michael schaffer march 30, 2009

as we become adults, we have this need to marginalize youth and make them into archetypes.
‘the cabin in the woods’ spoilers: drew g-ddard speaks freely maria elena fernandez april 15, 2012

one wishes that these archetypes seemed more quaint than they are.
girl power comes to broadway rachel syme april 30, 2009

for whatever reason, i think about that a lot—two american archetypes.
broadway’s comeback kid kevin sessums november 1, 2011

historical examples

longhi speaks of him as “most unfaithful to his archetypes,” and, “whatever the originals, being always bartolozzi.”
the best portraits in engraving charles sumner

they are transcripts, types—the archetypes are in us, and eternal.
human animals frank hamel

the archetypes (or models) of qualities are the actualizations of the beings, which are the principles of these qualities.
plotinos: complete works, v. 1 plotinos (plotinus)

the greek anthology and martial have furnished the archetypes of our epigrams and of our epitaphs.
ephemera critica john churton collins

moses and the prophets were considered by the evangelists antetypes or archetypes of the coming savior.
the world’s sixteen crucified saviors kersey graves

noun
a perfect or typical specimen
an original model or pattern; prototype
(psycho-n-l) one of the inherited mental images postulated by jung as the content of the collective unconscious
a constantly recurring symbol or motif in literature, painting, etc
n.

“original pattern from which copies are made,” 1540s, from latin archetypum, from greek arkhetypon “pattern, model, figure on a seal,” neuter of adjective arkhetypos “first-moulded,” from arkhe- “first” (see archon) + typos “model, type, blow, mark of a blow” (see type). jungian psychology sense of “pervasive idea or image from the collective unconscious” is from 1919.

archetype ar·che·type (är’kĭ-tīp’)
n.

an original model or type after which other similar things are patterned.

in jungian psychology, an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic image that is derived from the past collective experience of humanity and is present in the unconscious of the individual. also called imago.

ar’che·typ’al (-tī’pəl) or ar’che·typ’ic (-tĭp’ĭk) or ar’che·typ’i·cal adj.
ar’che·typ’i·cal·ly adv.
archetype [(ahr-ki-teyep)]

an original model after which other similar things are patterned. in the psychology of carl jung, archetypes are the images, patterns, and symbols that rise out of the collective unconscious and appear in dreams, mythology, and fairy tales.