Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

epistle

nounHigh-frequency wordMore E words

a formal or lengthy letter, especially one written as a literary work

Word origin: From Greek epistole, a message sent.

Test your vocabulary in a real test Full-length · no signup · instant score
In a sentence

Epistle in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing epistle in a sentence.

The diplomat sent a lengthy epistle to the foreign minister outlining his concerns.

The published epistle to his former student doubled as a manifesto for the new school of thought.

Synonyms
lettermissivedispatchcorrespondence
Antonyms

None listed.

Usage & nuance

Using “epistle” well

Epistle denotes a formal or literary letter, often weightier than an everyday note. It carries a slightly elevated or archaic tone and is familiar from biblical contexts.

Common questions

Questions about “epistle

Epistle (noun) means a formal or lengthy letter, especially one written as a literary work
Here is epistle used in an example sentence: "The diplomat sent a lengthy epistle to the foreign minister outlining his concerns." Another example: "The published epistle to his former student doubled as a manifesto for the new school of thought."
Common synonyms for epistle include letter, missive, dispatch, correspondence.
Clusters with letter, missive, dispatch, and correspondence in Sentence Equivalence. The cue is usually a formal or substantial written communication.
Yes. Epistle is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

See these words the way the GRE tests them.

Definitions in isolation do not stick. Sit a free, full-length GRE mock and meet this vocabulary inside real text completion and sentence equivalence questions, with your score and a worked solution for every answer.