noun

epistle

ih-PIS-uhl

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Epistle (noun) means a formal or literary letter, especially a long or public one, sometimes written in verse. Example: “He sent his old friend a lengthy epistle full of news.”

noun

literary or humorous A formal or literary letter, especially a long or public one, sometimes written in verse.

"He sent his old friend a lengthy epistle full of news."

"The poet composed the whole work as an epistle to a distant lover."

"Her email turned into a full epistle by the time she'd finished."

religious In Christianity, one of the New Testament letters written by an apostle, or a passage from it read during a church service.

"The vicar read the epistle before moving on to the gospel."

"Paul's epistle to the Romans is one of his longest epistles."

"The choir sang between the epistle and the gospel reading."

How to use epistle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA formal letter, or, in church, a New Testament reading.

When to use it

Outside church use, it is a literary or slightly humorous way to describe an unusually long or formal letter.

Memory tip

If a vicar mentions the epistle, they mean a passage from one of the New Testament letters.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

a long epistle write an epistle the epistle reading an epistle to

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He sent his old friend a lengthy _____ full of news.

Etymology

Epistle reached English through Middle English forms such as epistel and pistel, themselves drawn from Old English and Anglo-Norman versions of the Latin epistola. Latin took the word from Ancient Greek epistolē, meaning a letter or message, built from a verb meaning to send.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for epistle

bristle whistle thistle gristle

See all rhymes for epistle →

Frequently asked questions

What does epistle mean?

An epistle is a formal or literary letter, or, in a religious context, one of the New Testament letters read in church.

Why is a letter called an epistle?

The word comes ultimately from Greek epistolē, meaning a letter or message sent to someone.

Is epistle just an old word for letter?

It usually implies something more formal, public or literary than an ordinary letter.

What is the meaning of epistle?

"epistle" (noun) means a formal or literary letter, especially a long or public one, sometimes written in verse.