Standard Lemma guide

epiphenomenal

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˌɛpɪfɪˈnɒmɪnəl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Being of secondary consequence to a causal chain of processes, but playing no causal role in the process of interest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of or pertaining to a mental process that occurs only as an incidental effect of electrical or chemical activity in the brain or nervous system.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epi Proto-Hellenic *epí Ancient Greek ἐπί (epí) Ancient Greek ἐπῐ- (epĭ-)der. English epi- Proto-Indo-European *bheh2-der. Proto-Hellenic *pháňňō Ancient Greek φαίνω (phaínō) Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon)bor. Late Latin phaenomenonder. English phenomenon Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al ▲ Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon)bor. French phénomène ▲ Old French -al Middle French -al French -al French phénoménalbor. English phenomenal English epiphenomenal From epi- + phenomenal.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: epifenomenaalinen — Translations
  • Polish: epifenomenalny — Translations