noun

epitaph

EHP-ih-tahf

noun

Words inscribed on a gravestone or tomb in memory of the person buried there.

"Her epitaph simply read, "She loved fiercely and lived well.""

"The old churchyard is full of weathered epitaphs dating back centuries."

How to Use Epitaph

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe short memorial text carved on a gravestone (or, loosely, any brief tribute written after someone's death).

Common pairings

write an epitaph carved epitaph fitting epitaph

epitaphed past tense, epitaphs plural, epitaphs singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ simply read, "She loved fiercely and lived well."

From Greek epitáphios, "over a tomb" — from epi- ("over") + táphos ("tomb").