epithet

1 of 2

noun

ep·​i·​thet ˈe-pə-ˌthet 

also -thət

1

a

: a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing

b

: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase

c

: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus

2

obsolete : expression

epithetic

ˌe-pə-ˈthe-tik 

adjective

or epithetical

ˌe-pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 

epithetic

2 of 2

adjective

ep·​i·​thet·​ic

variants or epithetical

-tə̇kəl 

1

: using epithets

2

: of or having the character of an epithet

the poetry … was conservatively epithetical, containing only about seven adjectives in ten lines

—Josephine Miles

Did you know?

Nowadays, epithet is usually used negatively, with the meaning "a disparaging word or phrase," but it wasn't always that way. Epithet comes from Greek epitithenai, meaning "to put on" or "to add." In its oldest sense, epithet is simply a descriptive word or phrase, especially one joined by fixed association to the name of someone or something, as in "Ivan the Great" or the Homeric phrase "wine-dark sea."

Synonyms of epithet

Noun

• nickname
• moniker
• surname

Examples of epithet in a Sentence

Noun

His charitable works have earned him the epithet “Mr. Philanthropy.”

Many were offended by her use of racial epithets.

a group of angry people hurling epithets at one another

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The epithet is not a concession (the database of Trumpian apologies has yet to receive any inputs). — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026

Tape recordings played during the case also showed Fuhrman had used a racial epithet despite his testimony claiming to never have done so. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 May 2026

The Chawla said multiple campaign road signs were vandalized with racial epithets in two separate incidents. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 18 May 2026

His nanny was his fierce protector and insulated him from the depredations of Nazis and their enablers, baptizing him and teaching him to handily hurl anti-Jewish epithets to fit in. — Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin epitheton, from Greek, from neuter of epithetos added, from epitithenai to put on, add, from epi- + tithenai to put — more at do

First Known Use

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing epithet

• specific epithet

Rhymes for epithet

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bassinet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• ethernet
• heavyset

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Kids Definition

epithet

noun

ep·​i·​thet ˈep-ə-ˌthet 

1

a

: a word or phrase (as Lionhearted in "Richard the Lionhearted") that expresses a quality thought to be characteristic of a person or thing

b

: a word or name used as a term of abuse

2

: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus

epithetic

ˌep-ə-ˈthet-ik 

adjective

or epithetical

-ˈthet-i-kəl 

Medical Definition

epithet

noun

ep·​i·​thet

ˈep-ə-ˌthet also -thət

: the part of a scientific name identifying the species, variety, or other subunit within a genus see specific epithet