epigram

/ˈɛpɪɡɹæm/

//ˈɛpɪɡɹæm// noun

"epigram" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“epigram” is uncommon English (frequency #77,651 among 2,246 “E” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#77,651
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An inscription in stone.

Corpus desk

Index EN-epigram · epigram · English

epigram · rank #77,651 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #77,651
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH Esch

Nearest frequency peer: Esch (+2 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “epigram”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “epigram” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for epigram
PropertyValue
Headwordepigram
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛpɪɡɹæm/
Letters7
Frequency rank#77,651
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “epigram” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).epigramfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “Esch” (#77,653), “environ” (#77,648), “enunciate” (#77,647). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “epigram” is #77,651. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

epigram is uncommon English at frequency #77,651 among 2,246 “E” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɛpɪɡɹæm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for epigram in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French epigramme, from Latin epigramma, from Ancient Greek ἐπίγραμμα (epígramma, “inscription”). The correct English form is epigram, spelled E-P-I-G-R-A-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    An inscription in stone.
  2. 2
    A brief but witty saying.
  3. 3
    A short, witty or pithy poem.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how epigram appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The second has written a sonnet upon the mutability of woman, And the third writes an epigram to Candidia.

Etymology

From Middle French epigramme, from Latin epigramma, from Ancient Greek ἐπίγραμμα (epígramma, “inscription”).

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "epigram"?
"epigram" is spelled E-P-I-G-R-A-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛpɪɡɹæm/.
What does "epigram" mean?
As a noun, "epigram" means: An inscription in stone.
How do you pronounce "epigram"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "epigram" is /ˈɛpɪɡɹæm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "epigram"?
From Middle French epigramme, from Latin epigramma, from Ancient Greek ἐπίγραμμα (epígramma, “inscription”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "epigram", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list