1. Plural of epirogenesis; large-scale, slow vertical movements of the Earth's crust that affect broad continental areas without significant folding or faulting.
Usage: geology; technical term; also called epeirogeny

Examples

• The epirogenies of the North American craton resulted in the formation of vast shallow seas during the Paleozoic Era.
• Geologists study epirogenies to understand how continents rise and fall over millions of years.
• Unlike mountain-building orogeny, epirogenies involve gentle, broad uplift or subsidence.
• The epirogenies affecting the Great Plains created the conditions for ancient inland seas.
• Understanding epirogenies is essential for interpreting the stratigraphic record of stable continental interiors.