epithet
noun
ep·i·thet
ˈe-pə-ˌthet 
also -thət
1
a
: a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing
b
: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase
c
: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
2
obsolete
: expression
Did you know?
Nowadays, epithet is usually used negatively, with the meaning "a disparaging word or phrase," but it wasn't always that way. Epithet comes from Greek epitithenai, meaning "to put on" or "to add." In its oldest sense, epithet is simply a descriptive word or phrase, especially one joined by fixed association to the name of someone or something, as in "Ivan the Great" or the Homeric phrase "wine-dark sea."
Synonyms
Examples of epithet in a Sentence
His charitable works have earned him the epithet “Mr. Philanthropy.”
Many were offended by her use of racial epithets.
a group of angry people hurling epithets at one another
Recent Examples on the Web
The next day, one of his supporters called U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s chambers and called her a racial epithet.
—
Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
In Greek mythology, Chloe was an epithet of the goddess Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
Just last month, neo-Nazis marched in uniform throughout the streets of Ohio’s capital, shouting racial epithets.
—Derrick Johnson, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
For example, if a butterfly like Papilio glaucus were transferred to a genus with a feminine name, the epithet glaucus (masculine form) would be adjusted to glauca to agree in gender with the new genus.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for epithet 
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Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
In Greek mythology, Chloe was an epithet of the goddess Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
Just last month, neo-Nazis marched in uniform throughout the streets of Ohio’s capital, shouting racial epithets.
—Derrick Johnson, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
For example, if a butterfly like Papilio glaucus were transferred to a genus with a feminine name, the epithet glaucus (masculine form) would be adjusted to glauca to agree in gender with the new genus.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for epithet
Dictionary Entries Near epithet
Cite this Entry
“Epithet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epithet. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
epithet
noun
ep·i·thet
ˈep-ə-ˌthet
1
a
: a word or phrase (as Lionhearted in "Richard the Lionhearted") that expresses a quality thought to be characteristic of a person or thing
b
: a word or name used as a term of abuse
2
: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
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