epitome

American  

[ih-pit-uh-mee] / ɪˈpɪt ə mi /

noun

1. a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class.

   He is the epitome of goodness.

   Synonyms:

   quintessence, typification, model, exemplification, embodiment

2. a condensed account, especially of a literary work; abstract.

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epitome British  

/ ɪˈpɪtəmɪ, ˌɛpɪˈtɒmɪkəl /

noun

1. a typical example of a characteristic or class; embodiment; personification

   he is the epitome of sloth

2. a summary of a written work; abstract

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Other Word Forms

• epitomic adjective
• epitomical adjective

Etymology

Origin of epitome

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin epitomē “abridgment,” from Greek epitomḗ “abridgment, surface incision,” equivalent to epi- + -tome

Example Sentences

This was the era of the sentimental “parlor song,” of which the British song “The Lost Chord” is the sophisticated epitome.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The human part of him, leadership, musicianship, fatherhood, that was the epitome of who he was."

From BBC

Jessie saying "night night" and giving a salute to an empty suit of armour on her way out of the castle one evening was perhaps the epitome of her brilliant eccentricity.

From BBC

The chef’s kitchen is the epitome of luxury thanks to its high ceilings adorned in wooden beams, marble tiled flooring, wooden island table, and state-of-the-art appliances.

From MarketWatch

The complaint also includes an alleged email from the singer, in which he apologizes for his actions and writes, “I am the actual epitome of a desperate dirty ‘old man.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apotheosis
• embodiment
• essence
• exemplar
• personification