Synonyms for specimen
ˈspɛs ə mənspec·i·men

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.8 / 4 votes

1. specimen

   From its original sense of sample or specimen (Latin 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. 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. Example comes nearer to the possible freedom of the model than to the necessary exactness of the pattern; often we can not, in a given case, exactly imitate the best example, but only adapt its teachings to altered circumstances. In its application to a person or thing, exemplar can scarcely be distinguished from example; but example is most frequently used for an act, or course of action, for which exemplar is not used; as, one sets a good (or a bad) example. An exemplification is an illustrative working out in action of a principle or law, without any reference to its being copied or repeated; an example guides, an exemplification illustrates or explains. Ensample is the same as example, but is practically obsolete outside of Scriptural or theological language. Compare MODEL; SAMPLE.

   Synonyms:
   archetype, ensample, example, exemplar, exemplification, ideal, model, pattern, precedent, prototype, sample, standard, type, warning

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. specimen

   Synonyms:
   sample, mode, pattern, model, illustration, instance, type, exemplar

   Antonyms:
   anomaly, exception, nondescript, monster, freak, misillustration

Princeton's WordNet

1. specimennoun

   an example regarded as typical of its class

2. specimennoun

   a bit of tissue or blood or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes

   "they collected a urine specimen for urinalysis"

Matched Categories

1. • Example
   • Sample

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specimennoun

   Synonyms:
   pattern, sample, model

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specimennoun

   Synonyms:
   example, sample, model, copy, pattern

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "specimen":

   specimens, sample, model, samples

Suggested Resources

1. specimen

   Song lyrics by specimen -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by specimen on the Lyrics.com website.

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How to use specimen in a sentence?

1. John Fetterman:

   I haven't done any polls, I haven't done any focus groups. I mean look at me. I'm not a polished specimen here, i'm going to either win or lose this race by being my true authentic self and telling the people the truth. And if me winning would require me being disingenuous or not telling the truth to people, I wouldn't want to win.

2. Jennifer McQuiston:

   And in that particular second search, they collected a specimen from an air freshener bottle that had not been collected the first time around, and this week that we got a positive PCR results out of that air freshener bottle for Burkholderia pseudomallei.

3. Nathaniel Hawthorne:

   Every young sculptor seems to think that he must give the world some specimen of indecorous womanhood, and call it Eve, Venus, a Nymph, or any name that may apologize for a lack of decent clothing.

4. Javier Luque:

   The specimen is spectacular, it is one of a kind. It's absolutely complete and is not missing a single hair on the body, which is remarkable.

5. Darla Zelenitsky:

   It is an amazing specimen... I have been working on dinosaur eggs for 25 years and have yet to see anything like it, up until now, little has been known of what was going on inside a dinosaur's egg prior to hatching, as there are so few embryonic skeletons, particularly those that are complete and preserved in a life pose.