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 ( def ).

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

Derived Forms

• ˌepiˈthetic, adjective

Other Words From

• epi·thetic epi·theti·cal 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

Last week in Columbus, Ohio, a dozen or so people marched through the city waving Nazi flags and yelling racial epithets.

From Los Angeles Times

Democrats have successfully framed this election as a contest between normal and “weird,” to recycle the cringeworthy epithet from the Harris-Walz peak of early September.

From Salon

Her opposition earned her the epithet "Crazy Nancy" from Trump, who on Monday called her a "bad, sick woman" and "crazy as a bedbug."

From Salon

Others crushed beer cans and shouted slurs from their perches and hurled epithets about Democrats.

From Salon

The Republican response has seemed defensive and inconsistent, belittling Walz’s coaching experience, questioning his military service and dispensing the stale and misogynistic epithet “Tampon Tim.”

From Salon