Template: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to a pre-designed document or file that can be used as a starting point for creating new files.

• I used a resume template to create my own professional CV.
• The website template simplified the process of building our site.

Refers to the arrangement or organization of information in a particular way. Often used in relation to text documents, reports, or files.

• Please submit your essay in MLA format.
• The spreadsheet format made data analysis easier.

Describes the physical placement of elements on a page or screen, often used in design or publishing contexts.

• The magazine's layout was eye-catching and easy to navigate.
• We need to finalize the layout for the brochure before printing.

Commonly used to describe regular and repeated decorative designs or a predictable sequence of events. It can also be used in programming to describe a repeated coding structure.

• The dress had a beautiful floral pattern.
• She noticed a pattern in his behavior that worried her.

Best suited when referring to a preset format or a pattern used to make multiple items or documents with the same structure.

• Use this template to create your resume.
• We need a template for the annual report.

Refers to a general description or plan giving the essential features of something but not the detail. Commonly used in the context of written works or presentations.

• I will send you an outline of my presentation later today.
• The outline for the project's first phase is almost complete.

Used to describe a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text. Often used in programming or theoretical contexts.

• The software development framework greatly simplifies the coding process.
• Our educational framework is centered around student engagement.

Appropriate when talking about the arrangement and organization of the parts of something complex. It is broader than 'outline' and can refer to physical or abstract things.

• The structure of the building needs to be inspected.
• Good management is crucial for the structure of a successful team.

A guideline or structure used as a starting point for creating something new. Often utilized in documents, designs, or programming.

• Please use the template provided to create your presentation.
• I will create a new email using the company template.

To make consistent or uniform, typically by establishing a standard or norm across multiple instances. Often used in manufacturing, education, and processes.

• We need to standardize the test procedures across all laboratories.
• The company is working to standardize its customer service protocols.

A recurring design, shape, or behavior. Mostly used in contexts related to designs, behaviors, and statistical analysis.

• The dress was made using a beautiful floral pattern.
• Analyzing the data revealed a clear pattern of customer behavior.

A simplified or representative example used to describe, explain, or predict a system, concept, or object. Common in scientific, mathematical, and business contexts.

• The scientists built a model to forecast the weather patterns.
• She used a 3D model to design the new product.