# Epstein

/ˈɛpˌstaɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/epstein
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to kill and frame as suicide

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

to kill someone and then make it look like they committed suicide so they cannot tell secrets.

For teachers: To murder an individual and stage the scene to resemble a suicide, specifically to silence a witness or co-conspirator.

- Some people joked online that the witness might get epsteined before the trial started.
- The conspiracy theorist argued that the whistleblower didn't take his own life but was instead epsteined by those he was about to expose.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice.

Teaching tip: This is a highly controversial and informal term based on conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein; use with caution as it may be seen as insensitive or unprofessional.

### 2. related to Jeffrey Epstein

adjective · CEFR C2 · Informal

related to the crimes or the social circle of Jeffrey Epstein.

For teachers: Associated with the criminal activities, social network, or lack of legal accountability surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.

- The journalist spent years investigating the Epstein list of famous names.
- The documentary explored the Epstein connections that reached into the highest levels of international politics and finance.

Usage: Usually used as a modifier before a noun.

Teaching tip: In this sense, the word is almost always capitalized as it refers directly to the proper name.

## Examples

- The internet is full of jokes about people being epsteined.
- After the whistleblower went missing, social media users began to speculate that he had been epsteined by the corporation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.