epitome
Americannoun
-
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
-
a condensed account, especially of a literary work; abstract.
noun
-
a typical example of a characteristic or class; embodiment; personification
he is the epitome of sloth
-
a summary of a written work; abstract
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He wore KidSuper, who he called the epitome of art.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The kitchen is the epitome of rustic charm with its cabinetry, island, and state-of-the-art appliances.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
Buss's daughter, current Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, called him "a guardian angel for this franchise" and "the epitome of an era."
From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026
“She’s kind and generous, she doesn’t even notice how magnetic she is and she just absolutely adores her husband. She’s the epitome of a woman in many ways.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026
“Goodbye, Cadet Fitz,” he said, the epitome of good manners.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
