epiphany

American  

[ih-pif-uh-nee] / ɪˈpɪf ə ni /

noun

plural

epiphanies

1. (initial capital letter) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.

2. an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity.

3. a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

4. a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.

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epiphany ¹ British  

/ ˌɛpɪˈfænɪk, ɪˈpɪfənɪ /

noun

1. the manifestation of a supernatural or divine reality

2. any moment of great or sudden revelation

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Epiphany ² British  

/ ɪˈpɪfənɪ /

noun

1. a Christian festival held on Jan 6, commemorating, in the Western Church, the manifestation of Christ to the Magi and, in the Eastern Church, the baptism of Christ

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Epiphany Cultural  

1. A festival in Christianity celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. Epiphany means “a showing forth” — in this case a showing forth of Jesus to the Gentiles.

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Usage

What is the Feast of the Epiphany? The Feast of the Epiphany (often simply called Epiphany) is a Christian holiday. In the Western Church, it celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Christ (the prophesied Messiah or Savior) to the Magi (popularly known as the three wise men) and to all Gentiles (non-Jews). In the Eastern Church, the Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus and the revelation of his divinity. The Feast of the Epiphany is considered the twelfth and final day of the Christmas celebration. For this reason, it is sometimes called Twelfth Day. Many Christians observe the Epiphany as the end of the Christmas season and it is traditional to leave up Christmas decorations until this day. In some places, the Feast of the Epiphany is considered to mark the start of Carnival season—the period of feasting and merriment before Lent.

Other Word Forms

• epiphanic adjective
• epiphanous adjective

Etymology

Origin of epiphany

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English epiphanie, from Late Latin epiphanīa, from Late Greek epipháneia, from Greek: “apparition,” equivalent to epi- epi- ( def. ) + phan- (stem of phaínein “to appear”) + -eia -y ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Shortly into the review, the team members had their epiphany.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

At the same time, Californians themselves were feeling an environmental epiphany.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

That epiphany to “fold everything” led to opening the AlphaFold system to the entire scientific research community and—cue the ABBA—a Nobel Prize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

Is England's approach on this fourth day in Adelaide a welcome epiphany that their previous over-aggression was misplaced, or a frustrating reveal they were always capable of playing in this fashion?

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

That epiphany should have flooded Ekon with happiness.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• flash
• insight
• inspiration
• realization
• vision