Epitome

/ɪˈpɪtəmi/intermediatenoun

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Meaning

A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.

Memory trick

EPI-TOME: not a “tome”, it’s the short, perfect summary/example.

Examples

1

She is the epitome of calm under pressure.

2

That response is the epitome of customer obsession.

3

The film is the epitome of 90s nostalgia.

Synonyms

quintessential exampleembodimentarchetypemodelparadigmapexideal

Antonyms

counterexampleanomalyexceptionoutlier

Etymology

From Greek epitomē "abridgment," from epitemnein "to cut short."

Usage Notes

Often used as “the epitome of …” to emphasize a strong, representative example.

Real-life contexts

1

Use for praise: "That’s the epitome of good leadership."

2

Use for critique: "This is the epitome of a perfunctory review."

3

Use in writing: "Show the epitome, then contrast with the exception."

Common Mistakes

Epitome is often mispronounced as “EP-i-tome.” It’s “ih-PIT-uh-mee.”

Epitome: Meaning, Examples & How to Remember It | WordFlippin