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; see epi-

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

We can only guess how the Romans came to call her Dido; Ms. MacDonald supposes it was an epithet meaning “the wanderer.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 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

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

Ben Berman, a New York City vegan who began a serious weightlifting regimen last year, said he's trying to reappropriate the epithet "soy boy," historically used to emasculate vegan and vegetarian men.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2024

Lucina was sometimes regarded as a Roman Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, but usually the name is used as an epithet of both Juno and Diana.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton