sample
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for sample, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small portion of something given or shown to represent the whole.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use sample
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French essample ("example"), from Latin exemplum — sample and example are doublets, two words descended from the very same Latin source.
Full origin of sample →Frequently asked questions
What does “sample” mean?
The word “sample” means a small portion of something given or shown to represent the whole. In plain terms, a small piece or amount of something used to represent, test, or judge the whole — or, in music, a reused snippet of another recording.
How do you pronounce “sample”?
“Sample” is pronounced SAHM-puhl (/ˈsæm.pəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sample” in a sentence?
Here is “sample” used in a sentence: “The tailor cut a sample of fabric so she could match the colour.”
What is another word for “sample”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sample” include example and specimen.
What part of speech is “sample”?
Depending on how it is used, “sample” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sample” come from?
The word “sample” comes from Latin. From Old French essample ("example"), from Latin exemplum — sample and example are doublets, two words descended from the very same Latin source.
Is “sample” a common word?
“Sample” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “sample” have?
“Sample” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small portion of something given or shown to represent the whole.
What is the difference between a sample and an example?
A sample is a small piece taken from a larger whole to represent it — a sample of fabric, or a blood sample. An example is one instance used to illustrate a general point or type. A sample is literally part of the thing; an example simply demonstrates it. That distinction is why they are mixed up.
What is an example of a sample?
A tiny cup of ice cream handed out in a shop is a sample, meant to represent the full tub. So is a paint swatch, a perfume tester, or a blood sample drawn for testing. In research, a sample is the smaller group studied to draw conclusions about a whole population.
What are the types of samples?
The meaning shifts by field. In shopping and marketing, a sample is a free taster of a product. In science and statistics, it is a subset chosen to represent a larger population, such as a random or representative sample. In medicine, it is material like blood or tissue taken for testing. All stand in for a bigger whole.