Model: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to refer to a person who poses for artists, photographers, or in fashion shows. It can also refer to a smaller representation of something.

• She works as a fashion model
• The architect presented a scale model of the new building

Commonly used in fashion retail to refer to a life-sized model of a human used to display clothing in stores.

• The store's window display featured a beautifully dressed mannequin
• She arranged the mannequins to show the latest fashion collection

Typically used in medical or educational contexts to refer to a model of the human body used for training and simulations.

• The medical students practiced CPR on a manikin
• The library display included an anatomical manikin

Often used to refer to an object that resembles a human but is used for tests, displays, or as a stand-in. It can also have a negative connotation when describing a person who is not smart.

• The crash test dummy was used to test the car's safety features
• Don't be such a dummy and read the manual!

Used when talking about a particular version or design of a product.

• The new model of the smartphone has an improved camera.
• He drives the latest model of the car.

Used when referring to an imitation or replication of a real-world process or system, often for training or research purposes.

• The pilot practiced emergency procedures in the flight simulation.
• The simulation helped scientists understand the effects of climate change.

Used when referring to the first or original version of a product or concept, often created for testing purposes.

• The engineers tested the prototype before mass production.
• They presented the prototype of the new gadget at the tech fair.

Used when referring to a visual or symbolic depiction of something, often in a more abstract way.

• The map is a representation of the geographical features of the area.
• In his speech, he gave a fair representation of the company's financial status.

Used when describing the process of creating a scaled-down or theoretical representation of something for analysis or visualization.

• The architect needed to model the new building
• The scientist created a model of the cell to help understand its functions

Commonly used in situations where an imitation of a process or environment is created, often for training or experimentation purposes.

• The flight school uses a simulator to train pilots
• Scientists simulate different weather conditions to study their effects

Often used when someone is trying to match or surpass an achievement, typically with a sense of admiration.

• She tried to emulate her mentor's success in the business world
• The young programmer emulated the coding style of a famous developer

Used to describe the act of standing in for or symbolizing something or someone.

• The lawyer will represent the client in court
• The painting represents the struggles of the working class