'archetype' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'archetypos', where 'arche-' meant 'beginning, original' and 'typos' meant 'impression, model'.

'archetype' changed from Greek 'archetypos' into Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms (e.g. 'archetypus') and entered English in the 16th–17th century as 'archetype'.

Initially, it meant 'original model or first form', and over time it retained that sense while also being used more broadly for typical examples and (in psychology) universal, recurrent images.