apotheosis

American  

[uh-poth-ee-oh-sis, ap-uh-thee-uh-sis] / əˌpɒθ iˈoʊ sɪs, ˌæp əˈθi ə sɪs /

noun

plural

apotheoses

1. the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.

2. the ideal example; epitome; quintessence.

   This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression.

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apotheosis British  

/ əˌpɒθɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the elevation of a person to the rank of a god; deification

2. glorification of a person or thing

3. a glorified ideal

4. the best or greatest time or event

   the apotheosis of De Niro's career

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Etymology

Origin of apotheosis

1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek. See apo-, theo-, -osis

Example Sentences

But she later enjoyed an apotheosis as the matriarch of the largest empire the world had ever seen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Borglum believed the American political system was the apotheosis of human civilization, and he wanted his sculpture to stand alongside the Parthenon and pyramids as testaments to grand civilizations and cultures.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2025

Sunset Sound represents the apotheosis of the recording industry’s heyday.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2024

For Johnson to now be speaker of the House feels as if it is the apotheosis of his political career and aspirations.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2023

Once the apotheosis of suburban constancy, Levittown is now an example of those same suburbs coming apart at the seams.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Related Words

• embodiment
• epitome
• exemplar
• ideal
• quintessence