Crossword Genius

... characteristic of city pal needing reform (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

typical

'characteristic' is the definition.
(associated in meaning)

'city pal needing reform' is the wordplay.
'needing reform' indicates anagramming the letters.
'city'+'pal'='citypal'
'citypal' anagrammed gives 'TYPICAL'.

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for typical that I've seen before include "Representative or quintessential" , "Archetypal" , "Average" , "Characteristic of a particular person or thing" , "Representitive, quintessential" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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