epicure
noun
Did you know?
The word epicure is currently associated with indulging the appetite, but that is a long way from the teachings of the man to whom we owe the word. The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus taught a philosophy of simple pleasure, friendship, and a secluded life. He believed in the pursuit of pleasure, but pleasure for him comprised tranquility and freedom from pain—not the indulgence of the senses. Detractors of Epicurus in his own time and later, however, reduced his notions of pleasure to material and sensual gratification. When epicure entered English in the 16th century, it was synonymous with the modern term hedonist; later use carried the notion of refinement of palate that we see in the word today.
Did you know?
The word epicure is currently associated with indulging the appetite, but that is a long way from the teachings of the man to whom we owe the word. The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus taught a philosophy of simple pleasure, friendship, and a secluded life. He believed in the pursuit of pleasure, but pleasure for him equated with tranquility and freedom from pain—not the indulgence of the senses. However, detractors of Epicurus in his own time and later reduced his notions of pleasure to material and sensual gratification. When epicure entered English in the 16th century, the philosophy of Epicurus had been trivialized, and so the word became synonymous with “hedonist.”
Examples of epicure in a Sentence
Sarah Khan, Bon Appétit, 18 Mar. 2025
Biggest Fear: Pain of their own insecurity, uncertainty. Type 7: The Enthusiast/Epicure
The enthusiast/epicure looks to explore all the wonders of life and are always on the hunt for new experiences and adventures.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Simic’s work is often described as surreal, darkly humorous, minimalist, the work of an impassioned epicure.
—Rowan Ricardo Phillips, The New Republic, 13 Jan. 2023
The flaneur was a familiar figure in nineteenth-century Paris: a solitary, quasi-artistic man (though not always) who strolled the streets like an urban epicure.
—Julian Barnes, The New York Review of Books, 27 Apr. 2022
An epicure is particular about his pleasures; a snob is particular about everyone else’s pleasures, forever lecturing others about their tastes in music, clothes, restaurants, and their general modes of life.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 10 Mar. 2022
Visitors to downtown Napa can further embrace their inner epicure at the Oxbow Public Market, a food hall included by Times travel writer Christopher Reynolds on his list of the 40 best autumn experiences in California.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2022
The Portland, Maine, seafood epicure offers a wide assortment of caviars from around the world and outstanding collections like this Royal Osetra Tasting.
—Megan Murphy, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2021
Picture a plateful of flounder leaping off the dish and chomping the epicure’s nose.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Nov. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Epicure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicure. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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epicure
noun
named for Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher who believed pleasure to be the chief aim of life
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