Standard Lemma guide

episteme

noun · 4 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

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  • Received-Pronunciation: ĕpĭstēʹmĭ
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɛp.ɪˈstiː.mi/
  • General-American: /ˌɛp.əˈsti.mi/
  • proscribed: /ˈɛp.ɪsˌtiːm/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH1 P IH0 S T IY2 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Scientific knowledge; a principled system of understanding; sometimes contrasted with empiricism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Know-how; compare techne.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Greek, specifically

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The fundamental body of ideas and collective presuppositions that defines the nature and sets the bounds of what is accepted as true knowledge in a given epistemic epoch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: specifically Foucaultian philosophy

Examples

  • 1997: Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, pages 65 and 71 (Totem Books, Icon Books; →ISBN An 'episteme' is the “underground” grid or network which allows thought to organize itself. Each historical period has its own episteme. It limits the totality of experience, knowledge and truth, and governs each science in one period. Classical representation no longer needs a subject like royalty. It can only be made visible by its invisibility — by appearing in the mirror of representation. The true subject is never to be found in the table — or painting — as a historical subject of life, labour and language. The classical episteme did not isolate a specific domain proper to man. Axiom: In the classical episteme the subject is bound to escape its own representation.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the body of ideas that determine the knowledge that is intellectually certain at any particular time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cognition, knowledge, noesis

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἐπῐ́σταμαι (epĭ́stamai) Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Ancient Greek -ᾱ (-ā) Ancient Greek -η (-ē) Ancient Greek ἐπιστήμη (epistḗmē)bor. English episteme Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἐπιστήμη (epistḗmē, “knowledge”).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: épistémè — philosophy (general): scientific knowledge
  • Portuguese: epísteme — philosophy (general): scientific knowledge
  • German: Episteme — Ancient Greek philosophy
  • French: épistémè — Foucaultian philosophy
  • German: Episteme — Foucaultian philosophy