rep‧re‧sen‧ta‧tive 1 / reprɪzentətɪv◂ / 形容词

1 typical of a particular group or thing

representative of

The latest incident is representative of a wider trend.

2 including examples of all the different types of something in a group :

The pollsters asked a representative sample of New York residents for their opinions.

3 a representative system of government allows people to vote for other people to represent them in the government :

a representative democracy

THESAURUS

typical a typical person or thing is a good example of that type of person or thing : With his camera around his neck, he looked like a typical tourist. | The windows are typical of houses built during this period.

classic used to describe a very typical and very good example of something : It was a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease. | a classic mistake | The book is a classic example of great teamwork.

archetypal the archetypal person or thing is the most typical example of that kind of person or thing, and has all their most important qualities : the archetypal English village | Indiana Jones is the archetypal adventure hero.

quintessential used when you want to emphasize that someone or something is the very best example of something – used especially when you admire them very much : the quintessential guide to New York | Robert Plant is the quintessential rock ‘n’ roll singer.

stereotypical having the characteristics that many people believe a particular type of person or thing has – used when you think these beliefs are not true : Hollywood films are full of stereotypical images of women as wives and mothers. | He challenges stereotypical ideas about people with disabilities.

representative containing the most common types of people or things that are found in something, and showing what it is usually like : a representative sample of college students

characteristic very typical of a particular type of thing, or of someone’s character or usual behaviour : Each species of bird has its own characteristic song. | What gives Paris its characteristic charm? | He played with his characteristic skill. | the characteristic symptoms of the disease

be the epitome of something to be the best possible example of a particular type of person or thing or of a particular quality : His house was thought to be the epitome of good taste.