epiphonema: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Rhetorical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “epiphonema” mean?
A concluding, exclamatory sentence or phrase at the end of a speech or passage, summarising or emphasising its main point.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A concluding, exclamatory sentence or phrase at the end of a speech or passage, summarising or emphasising its main point.
A rhetorical device in which the speaker or writer concludes an argument with a striking, often aphoristic, exclamation to leave a strong final impression on the audience. It functions as a rhetorical exclamation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Scholarly, erudite, formal.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to academic texts on rhetoric and classical literature.
Grammar
How to Use “epiphonema” in a Sentence
The speech concluded with a powerful epiphonema.He employed an epiphonema to drive his point home.The paragraph's final sentence functions as an epiphonema.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “epiphonema” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The epiphonemic conclusion resonated with the audience.
American English
- The essay's epiphonemic ending was particularly effective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, rhetorical analysis, and classical studies.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
A technical term in rhetoric and stylistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “epiphonema”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “epiphonema”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “epiphonema”
- Misspelling as 'epiphoneme' or 'epiphonima'.
- Confusing it with 'epigram' (a witty saying) or 'epitaph' (inscription on a tomb).
- Using it to describe any loud or emotional speech.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term from rhetoric and literary analysis, rarely encountered outside academic contexts.
It would sound very unnatural and overly technical. Simpler terms like 'concluding exclamation' or 'final point' are used instead.
An epiphonema is a specific *type* of conclusion—one that is exclamatory, emphatic, and often aphoristic, designed to leave a strong final impression.
Yes, in literature and famous speeches. For instance, the final line "Reader, I married him." from Charlotte Brontë's *Jane Eyre* can be analysed as an epiphonema, providing a decisive, exclamatory end to the narrative journey.
A concluding, exclamatory sentence or phrase at the end of a speech or passage, summarising or emphasising its main point.
Epiphonema is usually literary, rhetorical, academic in register.
Epiphonema: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛpɪfə(ʊ)ˈniːmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛpəfoʊˈnimə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EPI (upon) + PHONE (voice/sound) + EMA (like 'schema') -> A device you place UPON your speech/VOICE to conclude it memorably.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FINAL PUNCH in an argument; the EXCLAMATION MARK of a speech.
Practice
Quiz
In rhetorical terms, an 'epiphonema' is best described as: