What Does Epigram Mean?

An epigram is a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement. The word is derived from the Greek ἐπίγραμμα epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on, to inscribe", and the literary device has been employed for over two millennia.

What is an example of an epigram?

Familiar epigrams include: "I can resist everything but temptation." - Oscar Wilde. "No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend." - Groucho Marx. "If you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning." - Catherine the Great.

What is an epigram in English?

1 : a concise poem dealing pointedly and often satirically with a single thought or event and often ending with an ingenious turn of thought. 2 : a terse, sage, or witty and often paradoxical saying.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.