typical

[tip-i-kuh l] /ˈtɪp ɪ kəl/

adjective

of the nature of or serving as a type or representative specimen.

conforming to a particular type.

Biology. exemplifying most nearly the essential characteristics of a higher group in natural history, and forming the type:

the typical genus of a family.

characteristic or distinctive:

He has the mannerisms typical of his class.

pertaining to, of the nature of, or serving as a type or emblem; symbolic.

Also, typic.

Origin

1605-15; < Medieval Latin typicālis, equivalent to Late Latin typic(us) (< Greek typikós, equivalent to týp(os) type + -ikos -ic) + Latin -ālis -al¹

Related forms

typically, adverb

typicalness, typicality, noun

nontypical, adjective

nontypically, adverb

nontypicalness, noun

quasi-typical, adjective

quasi-typically, adverb

untypical, adjective

untypically, adverb

Synonyms

1. normal, average, stock, usual.

Examples from the web for typical

One of the ultimate comfort foods is made even better with a cheesy-biscuit topping in place of the typical pastry crust topping.
Your typical vegetarian enchiladas are mostly cheese.
For the typical sabbatical, the choices are either half a year away at full pay or a full year away at half pay.
Let the typical spring media frenzy over admissions begin.
Your work preparing success stories will pay off when you get to the interview and you're asked a typical question.
Those who do live there often leave on the weekends making it a typical suitcase school.
It is difficult for journalists to capture the attention of typical readers without relying on human interest stories.
The typical safety office will monitor biohazards produced from research on, say, a virulent virus or bacterium.
My typical confrontational-likes-a-challenge nature took a dive during that period.
The last hour of her life was typical of its happiness.

British Dictionary definitions for typical

typical

/ˈtɪpɪkəl/

adjective

being or serving as a representative example of a particular type; characteristic: the painting is a typical Rembrandt

considered to be an example of some undesirable trait: that is typical of you!

of or relating to a representative specimen or type

conforming to a type

(biology) having most of the characteristics of a particular taxonomic group: a typical species of a genus

Also (poetic) typic

Derived Forms

typically, adverb
typicalness, typicality, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin typicālis, from Late Latin typicus figurative, from Greek tupikos, from tupostype

Word Origin and History for typical

adj.

c.1600, "symbolic, emblematic," from Medieval Latin typicalis "symbolic," from Late Latin typicus "of or pertaining to a type," from Greek typikos, from typos "impression" (see type (n.)). Sense of "characteristic" is first recorded 1850. Related: Typically.