epitaph

American  

[ep-i-taf, -tahf] / ˈɛp ɪˌtæf, -ˌtɑf /

noun

epitaphs plural

1. a commemorative inscription on a tomb or mortuary monument about the person buried at that site.

2. a brief poem or other writing in praise of a deceased person.

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verb (used with object)

1. to commemorate in or with an epitaph.

epitaph British  

/ ˌɛpɪˈtæfɪk, -ˌtæf, ˈɛpɪˌtɑːf /

noun

1. a commemorative inscription on a tombstone or monument

2. a speech or written passage composed in commemoration of a dead person

3. a final judgment on a person or thing

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• epitaphist
  noun
• epitaphic
  adjective
• epitaphless
  adjective
• unepitaphed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• epitaphs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of epitaph

1350–1400; Middle English epitaphe < Latin epitaphium < Greek epitáphion over or at a tomb, equivalent to epi- epi- + táph ( os ) tomb + -ion noun, adj. suffix

Explanation

An epitaph is an inscription on a gravestone. Famous for his comedic jabs at the City of Brotherly Love, writer W.C. Fields once said he wanted "I'd rather be living in Philadelphia" as the epitaph on his tombstone. Once you trace this word back to its origins, you'll never forget its meaning. Forms of it show up in Middle English, Old French, Latin, and, before that, Greek: epi- "upon" and taphos "tomb." This gives us a mini history lesson on burial traditions. For thousands of years various societies have carved poetic, weepy, and witty words onto the monuments marking the final resting places of famous and infamous citizens.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epitaph epitaphs

I hope this doesn’t turn out to be the epitaph for the only viable political parties we have.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

Despite all this Mr Varvill's own epitaph for the business overshadows technological milestones.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2025

If this ends up being Cronenberg’s last, he’ll have gone out with a worldly, weighty epitaph.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2025

On the headstone marking his grave, the epitaph simply read “The Butler.”

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

And no greater tribute can be paid to you as parents, and no greater epitaph can come to them as children, than where they died and what they were doing when they died.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Hence, moviegoers understandably viewed "Let It Be," along with the film’s soundtrack, as epitaphs of sorts.

From Salon ● May 7, 2024

Maybe you’ll have time to study the graveyard epitaphs, or — if you’re really lucky — to marvel at the holographic visitors who’ve stowed away in your buggy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2023

None of the Sagalassos graves bore epitaphs, and genetic material is often destroyed by high temperatures in ancient cremations.

From New York Times ● Mar. 25, 2023

Social media erupted with epitaphs to the tiny cub.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2023

It was impossible, of course, to ignore the crosses, and each morning Jerry G. and Horsethief Shorty, occasionally aided by Bernabe Montoya and the state cops, had to uproot a dozen epitaphs.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• elegy
• eulogy