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

Examples

• Epeirogenies shaped the formation of vast continental platforms over millions of years.
• Geologists study epeirogenies to understand how continents rise and fall.
• The epeirogenies of the North American craton created stable interior basins.
• Unlike orogeny, epeirogenies occur without intense mountain-building deformation.