1. Something that is representative of all such things in a group.

2. Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.

3. Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).

4. A person punished as a warning to others.

5. A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model.

6. An instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate the rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rule.