epithet

[ep-uh-thet]

noun

1. any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality.

   “Richard the Lion-Hearted” is an epithet of Richard I.

   Synonyms: appellation, designation, sobriquet, nickname

2. a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as “man's best friend” for “dog.”

   Synonyms: appellation, designation, sobriquet, nickname

3. a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt, to express hostility, etc..

   He demeans his female employees by addressing them with sexist epithets.

   Synonyms: obscenity, expletive, abuse, insult, curse

4. Botany, Zoology.,  specific epithet.

epithet

/ ˈɛpɪˌθɛt /

noun

1. a descriptive word or phrase added to or substituted for a person's name

   "Lackland" is an epithet for King John

Other Word Forms

• epithetic adjective
• epithetical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epithet¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin epitheton “adjective; word used attributively,” from Greek epítheton “something added, adjective, epithet,” derivative of epitithénai “to place upon, put upon,” equivalent to epi- + the- (variant stem of tithénai “to put, place”) + -ton neuter participle suffix; epi-

Word History and Origins

Origin of epithet¹

C16: from Latin epitheton, from Greek, from epitithenai to add, from tithenai to put

Example Sentences

They couldn’t have known that their post would kick off a debate about racial slurs and the rush to adopt new epithets for outgroups.

From Salon

He provoked physical fights at protests and published reams of digital nonsense against Latino politicians, once superimposing a giant sombrero on an image of Antonio Villaraigosa with the epithet, “Viva Mexico!”

From Los Angeles Times

First shared in a social media post on X, “Heil Hitler” as been widely denounced for its racial epithets and antisemitism.

From Los Angeles Times

“Support your local ICE raid,” read a sign held up by a teenage boy, which also used an epithet to describe how people should treat “foreign friends.”

From Los Angeles Times

President Trump — the devil himself, to those roiling inside the hall — was derided as a “punk,” “the orange oligarch,” a small-fisted bully, the “thing that sits in the White House” and assorted unprintable epithets.

From Los Angeles Times