A person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model of a particular quality. An ideal instance worthy of imitation.
From Latin 'exemplar' meaning 'pattern' or 'model,' derived from 'exemplum' (example). Originally referred to an original manuscript from which copies were made, establishing the notion of a perfect model to be replicated.
Exemplar is like 'example' with extra star power - it's not just any example, but the BEST example that others should copy. Think of it as the gold standard, the template that everyone else tries to match. It's the example that sets the bar!
Exemplar lists (in science, business, leadership) historically overwhelmingly male; female examples systematically underrepresented in canonical references.
When citing exemplars, actively seek gender balance and cross-cultural diversity. Name women exemplars with equal prominence.
["model","example","role model"]
Women scientists (Rosalind Franklin, Lise Meitner, Jennifer Doudna) were exemplars erased from male-only 'exemplar' narratives; intentional inclusion corrects this.
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