1. The process of uplift or subsidence of large areas of the Earth's crust without significant folding or faulting, resulting in the formation of continents and ocean basins.
Usage: geology; technical term

Examples

• Epeirogenesis shaped the North American continent over millions of years.
• The gradual epeirogenesis of the region caused the ancient seabed to rise above water level.
• Geologists study epeirogenesis to understand how continents form and move.
• Unlike orogeny, epeirogenesis does not produce mountain ranges with intense folding.
• The epeirogenesis of the Colorado Plateau elevated the region without significant deformation.