An epiloguea short concluding section added after the main part of a story or work is a short ending section added to a book, play, or similar work. It usually gives extra information after the main story or speaks directly to the audiencethe people watching or listening to a performance or speech at the end of a performancethe act of presenting a play, show, or other work before others.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈɛpɪˌlɔɡ/
Easy pronunciation: EP-i-log (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the third syllable.
Primary sense: a short passage added at the end of a literary work.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Epilogue Meaning
an extra ending section at the end of a book or story
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a short passage added at the end of a literary work
Example: The epilogue told what eventually happened to the main characters.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- epilog — A spelling variant used in some English varieties and as a title form; it can serve as a direct substitute in this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Epilogue
Meaning 2
a closing speech to the audience at the end of a play
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play
Example: At the end of the play, the lead actor gave the epilogue.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- epilog — Can also be used for the theatrical closing speech sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Epilogue Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- epilog
a short speech addressed directly to the audience at the end of a play
- epilog
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use epilogue for any ending or conclusion, but it usually means a specific added closing section, not just the final part of something.
- Do not confuse epilogue with prologue, which comes at the beginning of a work.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does epilogue mean in simple English?
An epilogue is a short ending section added to a book, story, or play. It gives extra material after the main work is finished.
Is epilogue the same as ending?
Not exactly. An epilogue is a special kind of ending section, but not every ending is an epilogue.
What is a synonym for epilogue?
A main synonym is epilog, though it is less common in everyday use.
Can epilogue be used in plays?
Yes. It can also mean a short closing speech spoken directly to the audience at the end of a play.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
