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Definition of epitaph

epitaph

/ˈɛpɪtæf/
ep · i · taph
Plural:epitaphs
•
Adjective:epitaphic
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epitaph Lexical Profile

epitaph Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.

Example

"The poet composed his own brief epitaph to be carved into the granite headstone."

2

Something by which a person, time, or event will be remembered after it has ended or passed.

Example

"The abandoned factory stood as a grim epitaph to the town's once-thriving industrial era."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for epitaph

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'epitaph' (an inscription on a tombstone) with 'epithet' (a descriptive phrase or abusive term) or 'epigraph' (a quotation at the beginning of a book or building).

• Nearby Words

episodic
episodically
epistle
epitaph
epithet
epitome
epitomization

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'epitaphe', via Latin 'epitaphium', from Ancient Greek 'epitaphion' (a funeral oration), composed of 'epi-' (upon) and 'taphos' (tomb).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Epitaph. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/epitaph
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