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• epicurean
  epicurean

  adjective

  fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in sensual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating and drinking.
• Epicurean
  Epicurean

  adjective

  of or relating to the philosophy of Epicurus

epicurean

American  

[ep-i-kyoo-ree-uhn, -kyoor-ee-] / ˌɛp ɪ kjʊˈri ən, -ˈkjʊər i- /

adjective

1. fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in sensual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating and drinking.

2. fit for an epicure.

   epicurean delicacies.

   Synonyms:

   rich, deluxe, lavish, luxury, gourmet

   Antonyms:

   frugal, modest, plain, simple, austere

3. (initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Epicurus or Epicureanism.

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noun

1. an epicure.

2. (initial capital letter) a disciple of Epicurus.

epicurean ¹ British  

/ ˌɛpɪkjʊˈriːən /

adjective

1. devoted to sensual pleasures, esp food and drink; hedonistic

2. suitable for an epicure

   an epicurean feast

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noun

1. an epicure; gourmet

Epicurean ² British  

/ ˌɛpɪkjʊˈriːən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the philosophy of Epicurus

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noun

1. a follower of the philosophy of Epicurus

Other Word Forms

• Epicureanism
  noun
• epicureanism
  noun
• nonepicurean
  adjective
• unepicurean
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of epicurean

1350–1400; Middle English Epicurien < Latin Epicūrē ( us ) of Epicurus (< Greek Epikoúreios ) + -an

Explanation

Used as a noun or adjective, epicurean refers to a devotion to pleasure or refined, sensuous enjoyment, especially of good food and drink. Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher this word was named after, taught his students that pleasure was a sign of the good, and pain a sign of evil. Thus the "good life" was one filled with pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Over the centuries, epicurean has come to refer to the pursuit of the finer things in life, and the word has a whole host of great synonyms, including luxurious, voluptuous, hedonistic, and, as a noun, bon vivant.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epicurean Epicurean

As diets and dietary preferences have changed epicurean tastes, he has sought to give people new ways to think about and enjoy their food.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

Chris, it turns out, has given up his career as an administrative lawyer for a life of fine dining and epicurean delicacies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

“And tah-dah! Here we are: a stunning sage honey, aromatic and earthy, epicurean in its depth of flavor and elegant simplicity, inspired by the treats she enjoys at her home with her family.”

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 4, 2025

As U.S. eaters' tastes become more adventurous, sampling avocados of different sizes, shapes, textures, tastes and origins could become a decision that's both epicurean and environmentally conscious.

From Salon ● May 29, 2024

He understands the epicurean precept of 'carpe diem' in a sense more befitting to human dignity.

From The Roman Poets of the Republic by Sellar, W. Y.

This year, Maison François made the list of top 100 restaurants in the UK for the National Restaurant Awards, and it was awarded the platinum star and Epicurean Excellence award from the International Culinary Union.

From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2025

Its subject was Greek Epicurean philosophy, which teaches that fulfilment can be found through the pleasure of everyday things.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2025

A few Latin works have been identified, but most of these contain Greek texts relating to the Epicurean school of philosophy.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 17, 2023

The term Epicurean often refers to individuals who take especial pleasure in food and drink, like a wine connoisseur or someone obsessed with Michelin star restaurants.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022

Hill may not have lived to know it, but suddenly in 1610 Epicurean philosophy had become ‘something serious’.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton