Exemples

Exemples is the plural form of the French noun exemple, meaning a representative instance used to illustrate a general rule, definition, or phenomenon. The word derives from Latin exemplum, meaning a sample or pattern. In French, the singular is un exemple and the plural des exemples; the form agrees with the gender and number of the noun in a sentence.

Usage and function

Exemples serve to clarify meaning, demonstrate how a principle applies, or provide concrete instances in education, writing, and argumentation. The phrase par exemple, meaning "for example," introduces a single illustration, while des exemples can refer to several cases when listing instances or when a discussion points to typical situations.

Contexts

In language learning and grammar, exemples help show correct usage, pronunciation, or syntactic patterns. In mathematics and computer science, un exemple or des exemples accompany explanations or proofs to illustrate methods or results. In rhetoric and professional writing, they support claims by offering tangible cases, comparisons, or counterexamples.

Notes

The term is primarily used in French-language contexts. When French terms appear in English texts, exemples may be used to refer to French-language examples or to discuss the concept within a bilingual or comparative framework.