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Can I use epitome like ideal?

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AussieInBg profile picture AussieInBgApril 2022

”epitone” strictly speaking means an ideal or perfect example of something. This is the basic definition you see in many dictionaries, without qualification.

However, in recent years ”epitome” is being used more and more in English to specifically indicate the ”best”/”perfect” example of something that is negative, e.g., ”He is the epitome of stupidity” = ”he is the most stupid person I know of".

Primarily this is usage in normal spoken/written language.

Using ”epitome” for something positive is either extremely formal or archaic.

I don’t think dictionaries such as Oxford or Websters have yet caught up with the shift in usage of ”epitome”. Maybe in their next editions.