What does archetype mean?
An archetype is an original model or pattern that serves as the basis for copies, imitations, or variations. The word carries two closely related meanings: in a general sense, it denotes the first or ideal version of something — the template from which others derive; in psychology and literary criticism, it refers to a universal symbol, character type, or story pattern that recurs across cultures and eras, such as the Hero, the Mentor, or the Trickster. The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung argued that such archetypes arise from a shared 'collective unconscious,' making them a foundational concept in depth psychology. Writers, filmmakers, and designers rely on archetypes to create characters and products that feel instantly familiar, while critics use the term to analyze why certain figures and narratives resonate so widely. Connotations are largely intellectual and analytical rather than emotional, and the word appears most often in formal discussion of myth, literature, psychology, and design.
nounAn archetype is an original model or pattern from which copies are made or on which things are based; in psychology and literary criticism, a universally recognized symbol, character type, or narrative motif that recurs across cultures.
- An original model or pattern from which later copies or imitations are made (e.g. the first design of a series).
- In Jungian psychology, an innate, universal symbol or image shared by all humans and expressed in dreams, myths, and art.
- In literary criticism, a recurring character type, plot structure, or motif found across stories and cultures.
"The wise old mentor who guides the young hero is one of the most enduring archetypes in storytelling."
"Sherlock Holmes became the archetype of the brilliant, eccentric detective for generations of fiction writers."
"According to Jung, the archetype of the Great Mother appears in myths from cultures that never had contact with one another."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple models or patterns, e.g. in lists of character types or symbolic figures.
"The course surveyed the major archetypes of world mythology, from the Hero to the Shadow."
Carl Jung believed archetypes like the Hero and the Mother are inherited in our minds — meaning every fairy tale you've ever loved may be running on ancient mental software.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of archetype
Archetype derives from the Greek 'arkhetupon' (ἀρχέτυπον), formed from 'arkhein' ('to begin' or 'to be first') and 'typos' ('pattern' or 'stamp'), literally meaning 'first-moulded' or 'original pattern.' The word entered English in the mid-16th century, initially used in philosophical and theological contexts to describe original forms or ideas of which earthly things were copies. Its modern psychological sense was established in the 20th century through Carl Jung's theory of the collective unconscious. It shares its Greek roots with words such as 'architect' and 'archaic.'
Related word forms
How archetype is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in academic writing on psychology, literature, mythology, and design. In everyday speech it often appears in discussions of film, branding, and personality typing. The adjective form 'archetypal' describes something that perfectly embodies an archetype.
Easily confused with archetype
A stereotype is a fixed, oversimplified generalization about a group of people, whereas an archetype is an original model or universal symbolic pattern.
A prototype is an early working model of a physical product built for testing, while an archetype is an ideal or original pattern that serves as the basis for copies.