typ‧i‧cal S2 W2 / tɪpɪk ə l / 形容词

1 having the usual features or qualities of a particular group or thing :

typical British weather

typical of

This painting is typical of his work.

This advertisement is a typical example of their marketing strategy.

2 happening in the usual way :

On a typical day , our students go to classes from 7.30 am to 1 pm.

Try calculating your budget for a typical week.

3 behaving in the way that you expect :

Bennett accepted the award with typical modesty.

it is typical of somebody to do something

It’s not typical of Gill to be so critical.

Mr Stevens’ appointment was a typical case of promoting a man beyond his level of competence.

4 typical! spoken used to show that you are annoyed when something bad happens again, or when someone does something bad again

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.