Epithet

Quick meaning: Epithet is a noun meaning A term used to characterize a person or thing.

Meaning

A term used to characterize a person or thing.

More Meanings

1. (mythology) A term used as a qualifier of the name of a deity in order to designate said deity in a particular aspect or role.
2. A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person.
3. One of many formulaic words or phrases used in the Iliad and Odyssey to characterize a person, a group of people, or a thing.
4. An abusive or contemptuous word or phrase.
5. (transitive) To term; to refer to as.
6. (taxonomy) A word in the scientific name of a taxon following the name of the genus or species. This applies only to formal names of plants, fungi and bacteria. In formal names of animals the corresponding term is the specific name.

Example Sentences

He was epitheted "the king of fools".

Politico reported that epithets appeared more than 251 times.

Counterprotesters shouted epithets as they walked by, but the opposing groups kept it nonviolent.

Part of this process was the elaboration of new terms for the Jew, especially the increasingly popular epithet “kike”.

Word Forms

• epithets
• epitheting
• epitheted

Synonyms for epithet

Depending on context, synonyms include cognomen, eponym, surname, name.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include name, qualification, qualifier, moniker, sobriquet, nickname.

Related Dictionary Tools