n. 1
A person who poses as a subject or visual reference for an artist.
Leonardo da Vinci chose a 15th century criminal as a model for Judas in his painting The Last Supper.
n. 2
A person who wears and showcases clothing, accessories, or cosmetics to promote or display them to an audience.
My mother was a hand model when she was young.
v. 1
To display an item on one's body for others to see the potential effect on their own bodies, especially in regard to wearing clothing while performing the role of a fashion model.
She modelled the shoes for her friends to appreciate.

Related words

Word family: modelbuilding modeldom modelesque modelhood modelish modelly modelmaking mode
Phrases: fashion model role-model floor model model country scale model waterfall model computer model calotte model

Forms

Plural: models → examples, patterns, exemplars, paradigms…
Past participle: modeled
e.g. modeled → posed, postured, molded, simulated…

Choose the right word

Model, Exemplum, Example, Pattern, Warning or Sample?

exemplum) example derives the seemingly contradictory meanings, on the one hand of a pattern or model, and on the other hand of a warning--a sample or specimen of what is to be followed, or of what is to be shunned.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

example For example, he speaks German, French and English.
pattern Where did you get the pattern for your new dress?
paradigm You just need time to adjust to the new paradigm.
fashion The hut kept the rain and dew out after a fashion.
manikin The jinn transformed Ivan into a plastic manikin.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
model		rising
example		rising
pattern		falling
paradigm		rising
exemplar		rising
fashion		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: sit¹
4 letters: type¹, form¹, icon², pose¹, norm¹, mold¹
5 letters: build¹, image², shape¹, gauge¹, mould¹, poser², forme
6 letters: design², mirror²
7 letters: example³, fashion², pattern², posture², epitome⁴, paragon³, manikin, manakin
8 letters: original⁴, standard², specimen³, paradigm³, simulate³, exemplar³, modelize
9 letters: framework², construct², prototype³, criterion⁴, mannequin³, archetype³, facsimile⁴, microcosm⁴
10 letters: simulation⁴
12 letters: quintessence³
14 letters: representation⁵

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (icon² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: modèle
Italiano: modello
Español: plantilla
Deutsch: Vorlage
Català: model