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
Explanation
If you're talking about a typical example of something, call it the epitome. The cartoon character Garfield is the epitome of the lazy, food-obsessed cat. Coming to us from Greek through Latin, epitome refers to something that is the ultimate representative of its class. Are you the epitome of the hard-working student or do you believe in study in moderation? Make sure you pronounce epitome with the accent on the second syllable (uh-PIH-tuh-mee).
Vocabulary lists containing epitome
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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Sapiens
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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 first 45 minutes was the epitome of two teams cancelling each other out - but once the second half began the landscape was set for City's win.
From BBC • Mar. 22, 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
Phil read from the article, “It says here that their attorney said ‘These people were the epitome of good foster parents’ and that ‘their reputation has been totally damaged.’
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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.
