epithet

American  

[ep-uh-thet] / ˈɛp əˌθɛt /

noun

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

• epithetic adjective
• epithetical adjective

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; epi-

Example Sentences

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

Bangladesh's Prothom Alo newspaper, which said Zia had "earned the epithet of the 'uncompromising leader'", reported that Rahman and other family members were by her side at the time of her death.

From Barron's • Dec. 30, 2025

One aspect of the show that the actor questioned, however, was Fuchs and Kane’s decision to omit that incendiary epithet from the scripts.

From Salon • Dec. 8, 2025

West then compared his fate to that of Randy Newman, whose song “Rednecks” controversially uses an epithet for Black people to satirize racism.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

In Nahuad rhetoric, things were frequently represented by the unusual device of naming two of their elements—a kind of doubled Homeric epithet.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann