Example (pronunciation)

An example (/ɪɡˈzæmpəl/) is a short illustrative instance used to demonstrate a concept, rule, or pattern. Examples appear throughout written and spoken language as a way to anchor an abstract idea in something concrete. A good example is vivid, specific, and relevant to the point being made.

In teaching and exposition, examples play a central role. They bridge the gap between a general principle and its application, allowing the reader to check whether a claim holds water. A single well-chosen example can do more work than many paragraphs of abstract argument. Conversely, a poorly chosen example can mislead or distract from the underlying point.

Mathematicians often distinguish between examples and counterexamples. An example exhibits an object with a given property; a counterexample rules out a conjecture by exhibiting an object that lacks the expected property. Both kinds of example are load-bearing in the development of a theory, and much of mathematical practice consists of hunting for the right ones.

Beyond mathematics, the practice of using examples is central to law, where precedent works as a stream of examples guiding new decisions, and to software engineering, where example inputs and outputs drive both documentation and automated tests. Everywhere the goal is the same: pin down a general claim by showing it at work in a particular case.