Prototype

A mental representation of the most typical member of a category, summarizing the features its members share.

• Ex: A bird that is small, feathered, sings, and flies; no real bird has to match it exactly.
• Ex: A professor who is older than most of the people who teach you.
• Ex: A restaurant with tables, a menu, and a server, which is why a food truck feels like a borderline case.

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Last updated: October 26, 2026 at 6:51 PM