ˌe-pi-ˈstȯ-lə-rē
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
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Epistolary was formed from the noun epistle, which refers to a composition written in the form of a letter to a particular person or group. In its original sense, epistle refers to one of the 21 letters (such as those from the apostle Paul) found in the New Testament. Epistle came to English in the 13th century, via Anglo-French and Latin, from the Greek noun epistolē, meaning "message" or "letter." Epistolē, in turn, came from the verb epistellein, meaning "to send to" or "to send from." Epistolary appeared in English four centuries after epistle and can be used to describe something related to or contained in a letter (as in "epistolary greetings") or composed of letters (as in "an epistolary novel").
Examples of epistolary in a Sentence
Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
What does the epistolary form give the nascent relationship?
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 12 May 2025
That's especially impressive given that the film derives its narrative from a 19th-century epistolary novel and its aesthetics from a landmark bit of silent-cinema expressionism — a far cry from shootouts and singing baby animals.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for epistolary
Cite this Entry
“Epistolary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epistolary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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