Definition of EPITOME (original) (raw)
1
: a typical or ideal example : embodiment
the British monarchy itself is the epitome of tradition—
Richard Joseph
2
a
: a summary of a written work
b
: a brief presentation or statement of something
3
: brief or miniature form —usually used with in
Did you know?
Epitome first appeared in print in the early 16th century, when it was used to mean "summary." If someone asks you to summarize a long paper, you effectively cut it up, mentioning only the most important ideas, and the etymology of epitome reflects this process: it comes from Greek epitemnein, meaning "to cut short." Your summary probably also presents all the key points of the original work, which may explain why epitome eventually came to be used for any person or object that is a clear or good example of an abstraction, as in "the epitome of grace" or "the epitome of health." We could go on and on... or could we?
Synonyms
Examples of epitome in a Sentence
Terns, nicknamed sea swallows by fishermen, are superb flying machines, the epitome of beauty on the wing. —E. Vernon Laux, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2001 Manchester, then known as 'Cottonopolis' and perceived throughout the world as the epitome of the whirling fierceness of the industrial revolution. … —Roy Jenkins, Gladstone, (1995) 1997 Hamilton thought the bank was a fait accompli, but he had not reckoned on Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Jefferson, the lover of rural virtues, had a deep, almost visceral hatred of banks, the epitome of all that was urban. —John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, July/August 1990 I didn't tell him that, at the time, I thought the place to be the epitome of bourgeois comfort; in those days I thought that there was some connection between creative talent and penury. —Ishmael Reed, "August Wilson," 1987, in Writin' Is Fightin', 1988
the golden rule is often cited as the epitome of moral conduct: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” the prestigious prep school prides itself on being widely regarded as the epitome of tradition and old-fashioned values
Recent Examples on the Web The Guest In Residence Striped Rugby Cashmere Sweater is the epitome of this trend, offering a luxe, mid-weight knit that’s both timeless and totally on-point. —Paula Lee, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2024 The Spa The spa at Le Barthélemy is the epitome of luxury. —Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2024 Joe was the epitome of 'good and faithful servant'. —Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Sep. 2024 Moosehead Grill What to expect: Moosehead is the epitome of a neighborhood watering hole — a casual, old Pizza Hut atmosphere with heavy drinks and excellent bar food. —Axios, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for epitome 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'epitome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin, from Greek epitomē, from epitemnein to cut short, from epi- + temnein to cut — more at tome
First Known Use
1520, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Time Traveler
The first known use of epitome was in 1520
Dictionary Entries Near epitome
Cite this Entry
“Epitome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epitome. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 17 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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