epitome

Someone or something that shows a particular quality perfectly.

• She is the epitome of kindness.
• The hotel was the epitome of luxury.
• His careful work makes him the epitome of professionalism.

How to use it: the epitome of something (Her apartment is the epitome of elegance.)

Similar words: perfect example, embodiment

Common phrases: the epitome of, epitome of elegance

Something that contains or represents the main features of a whole group.

• The museum is an epitome of local culture.
• This village forms a small epitome of the region.
• The collection serves as an epitome of nineteenth-century art.

How to use it: epitome of something (The village is an epitome of rural life.)

Similar words: embodiment, encapsulation, microcosm

Common phrases: epitome of something, small epitome

A short account of the main points in a longer piece of writing.

• She prepared an epitome of the book.
• The epitome covers the main events in ten pages.
• Students read an epitome rather than the complete work.

How to use it: epitome of something (He wrote an epitome of the ancient history.)

Similar words: summary, abridgment, digest

Common phrases: epitome of something, brief epitome