Meaning

noun an item of information that is typical of a class or group

noun a representative form or pattern

noun something to be imitated

originFrom Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0