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Prototypical vs Archetype - What's the difference?

prototypical | archetype |

As an adjective prototypical

is constituting or representing an original type of something that others are modelled on, or derived from.

As a noun archetype is

an original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated; a prototype.

As a verb archetype is

to depict as, model using or otherwise associate a subject or object with an archetype.

prototypical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • constituting or representing an original type of something that others are modelled on, or derived from

    • Synonyms

    *archetypal *archtypic *archetypical *prototypic

    Derived terms

    * prototypically

    archetype

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An original model of which all other similar persons, objects, or concepts are merely derivative, copied, patterned, or emulated; a prototype
  • (literature) A character, story, or object that is based on a known character, story, or object.
  • An ideal example of something; a quintessence.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012
    • , date=May 27 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=“New Kid On The Block” doubles as a terrific showcase for the Sea Captain who, in the grand tradition of Simpsons supporting characters, quickly goes from being a stereotype to an archetype , from being a crusty sea-captain character to the crusty sea-captain character.}}
  • (psychology) According to the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, a universal pattern of thought, present in an individual's unconscious, inherited from the past collective experience of humanity.

    • Usage notes

    Traditionally archetype'' refers to the model upon which something is based, but it has also come to mean an example of a personality archetype, particularly a fictional character in a story based on a well-established personality model. In this fashion, a character ''based'' on the Jesus archetype might be referred to as a "Jesus archetype". See ''eponym for a similar usage conflict.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

  • To depict as, model using or otherwise associate a subject or object with an archetype.
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