quintessential
Say it: kwin-tih-SEN-shul /ˌkwɪntəˈsɛnʃəl/ · adjective
What “quintessential” means
Showing exactly what something is typically like.
More precisely: Representing the most perfect or typical example of something.
Example: “A rainy Sunday with tea and a crossword is the quintessential lazy day.”
When to use it
In descriptive, slightly formal conversation, when something captures all the features you associate with a particular kind of thing.
Similar words
archetypal, classic, definitive
Where it comes from
From medieval Latin quinta essentia, "fifth essence."
Quick check
A seaside trip has sandcastles, paddling, ice cream and gulls overhead. What word describes this perfectly typical beach day?
quintessential or exceptional?
Show the answer
quintessential
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