But though exemplary, which comes from the Latin noun exemplum (“example”), describes something “excellent,” it almost always carries the further suggestion that the thing described …

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Serious and unpleasant (Definition of exemplary from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

EXEMPLARY definition: worthy of imitation; commendable. See examples of exemplary used in a sentence.

If you describe someone or something as exemplary, you think they are extremely good. Underpinning this success has been an exemplary record of innovation.

Definition of exemplary adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

1. worthy of imitation; commendable: exemplary conduct. 2. serving as a warning or deterrent: The jury awarded exemplary damages. 3. serving as an illustration or specimen; illustrative; …

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025 ex•em•pla•ry /ɪgˈzɛmpləri/ adj. so good or great as to be worthy of imitation; commendable: exemplary …

When something is the best it can be or reaches the highest point, it is exemplary and thus worth imitating. Exemplary comes from the Latin exemplum, meaning "sample" or "example."

There are 12 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word exemplary, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.