1A concrete instance or case shown to help explain or illustrate something.
わかりやすい例をひとつ挙げてみましょう。
Let me give one easy-to-understand example.
この文法の使い方は例を見ればすぐ分かる。
You can quickly understand how to use this grammar just by looking at an example.
彼のスピーチには実例が多くて説得力があった。
His speech had many concrete examples and was persuasive.
教師は生徒に身近な例を使って説明した。
The teacher used a familiar example to explain it to the students.
2A prior case or instance that serves as a reference or basis for present judgment or action; a precedent.
前例のない事態に、担当者は対応に苦慮した。
Faced with an unprecedented situation, the person in charge struggled to respond.
過去の例を調べたうえで方針を決めた。
We decided on our policy after examining past precedents.
その判決は今後の裁判の例となるだろう。
That ruling will likely serve as a precedent for future trials.
3A customary practice or habit that is regularly followed, as in 例によって ('as usual') or 例年 ('every year').
例によって、彼は会議に5分遅れてきた。
As usual, he arrived five minutes late to the meeting.
例年、この時期は花見客でにぎわう。
Every year, this season is bustling with cherry-blossom viewers.
例のごとく、社長のあいさつから会は始まった。
As always, the event began with a speech from the president.