epithet

American  

[ep-uh-thet] / ˈɛp əˌθɛt /

noun

• epithets
  plural

1. any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality.

   “Richard the Lion-Hearted” is an epithet of Richard I.

   Synonyms:

   appellation, designation, sobriquet, nickname

2. a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as “man's best friend” for “dog.”

   Synonyms:

   appellation, designation, sobriquet, nickname

3. a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt, to express hostility, etc..

   He demeans his female employees by addressing them with sexist epithets.

   Synonyms:

   obscenity, expletive, abuse, insult, curse

4. Botany, Zoology. specific epithet.

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epithet British  

/ ˈɛpɪˌθɛt /

noun

1. a descriptive word or phrase added to or substituted for a person's name

   "Lackland" is an epithet for King John

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• epithetic
  adjective
• epithetical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• epithets
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of epithet

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin epitheton “adjective; word used attributively,” from Greek epítheton “something added, adjective, epithet,” derivative of epitithénai “to place upon, put upon,” equivalent to epi- + the- (variant stem of tithénai “to put, place”) + -ton neuter participle suffix; see epi-

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Explanation

The noun epithet is a descriptive nickname, such as "Richard the Lionhearted," or "Tommy the Terrible." When it takes a turn for the worse, it can also be a word or phrase that offends. Don’t let epithet’s bad reputation fool you — that’s only half the story. An epithet can be harmless, a nickname that catches on, like all hockey fans knowing that "Sid the Kid" is Sidney Crosby. On the flip side, an epithet can be an abusive word or phrase that should never be used, like a racial epithet that offends and angers everyone.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epithet epithets

All summer, voters, consultants, and pundits have repeatedly attached Obama’s name like a Homeric epithet to a bumper crop of young, talented, and mostly male candidates running across the country.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

Adrian E. Alvarez, who runs the group’s website, created a song titled “Spencer, Saca La Bassura,” a reference to Pratt’s epithet for the mayor from the Spanish word for trash.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2026

Still, its control of the industry—and Americans’ daily lives—earned AT&T the epithet “Ma Bell.”

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

The Colombian film “A Poet” is, yes, about a poet, though that title takes on a revolving set of connotations—an aspiration, an occupation, a mocking epithet, a euphemism for “unemployed.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

Such holes hardly deserve the epithet black: they really are white hot and are emitting energy at a rate of about ten thousand megawatts.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

The bean counters expect their doctors, who yank people back from the brink of death and care for ailing folks screaming epithets at them, to do it all with a smile.

From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2025

“Democrats need to stay away from epithets like ‘weird,’ ” Stephens said, echoing a point that his colleague Thomas Friedman had also recently made.

From Slate ● May 9, 2025

“I want to make clear that our police department does not tolerate racism or unacceptable epithets of any kind from any member of our organization,” Solinsky wrote in the release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2024

On any day, it is nearly impossible not to pass by someone yelling obscenities and epithets, fighting unseen demons.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 23, 2023

Her wails and epithets carry out from the broken windows, down the firestairs.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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