n. 1
An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models.
Near-synonym: archetype (sometimes synonymous)
n. 2
A type of race car, a racing sports car not based on a production car. A 4-wheeled cockpit-seating car built especially for racing on sports car circuits, that does not use the silhouette related to a consumer road car.
n. 3
An early sample or model built to test a concept or process.
The prototype had loose wires and rough edges, but it worked.

Related words

Word family: prototypal prototypic prototypical
Phrases: sports prototype racing prototype prototype racecar

Forms

Plural: prototypes → originals, exemplars, patterns, archetypes…

Choose the right word

Prototype, Example, Sample, Specimen or Archetype?

An example, however, may be more than a sample or specimen of any class; it may be the very archetype or prototype to which the whole class must conform, as when Christ is spoken of as being an example or leaving an example for his disciples.

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

Example sentences

image We need to present a good image of Algeria abroad.
model He is very taken up with building model airplanes.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
prototype		steady
exemplar		rising
image		rising
model		rising
antetype		steady

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

By length

4 letters: type¹
5 letters: model², image², ideal²
6 letters: mirror²
7 letters: example³, pattern², epitome⁴
8 letters: original⁴, paradigm³, exemplar³, antetype
9 letters: archetype³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (model² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: prototype
Italiano: prototipo
Español: prototipo
Deutsch: Prototyp
Català: prototip