Soldier like Frenchman, for example (8)
I believe the answer is:
paradigm
'example' is the definition.
(paradigm is a kind of example)
'soldier like frenchman' is the wordplay.
'soldier' becomes 'para' (para is a kind of soldier**).
'like' becomes 'dig' (I've seen this in other clues).
'frenchman' becomes 'm' (abbreviation for Monsieur - like 'Mr').
'para'+'dig'+'m'='PARADIGM'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for paradigm that I've seen before include "Conceptual framework - a map grid (anagram)" , "Adam grip (anag.)" , "Example or explanatory model" , "Example, model or pattern" , "Pattern - exemplar" .)