emphasis

American  

[em-fuh-sis] / ˈɛm fə sɪs /

noun

plural

emphases

1. special stress laid upon, or importance attached to, anything.

   The president's statement gave emphasis to the budgetary crisis.

2. something that is given great stress or importance.

   Morality was the emphasis of his speech.

3. Rhetoric.

   1. special and significant stress of voice laid on particular words or syllables.

   2. stress laid on particular words, by means of position, repetition, or other indication.

4. intensity or force of expression, action, etc..

   Determination lent emphasis to his proposals.

5. prominence, as of form or outline.

   The background detracts from the emphasis of the figure.

6. Electronics. preemphasis.

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emphasis British  

/ ˈɛmfəsɪs /

noun

1. special importance or significance

2. an object, idea, etc, that is given special importance or significance

3. stress made to fall on a particular syllable, word, or phrase in speaking

4. force or intensity of expression

   he spoke with special emphasis on the subject of civil rights

5. sharpness or clarity of form or outline

   the sunlight gave emphasis to the shape of the mountain

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Other Word Forms

• misemphasis noun
• reemphasis noun
• superemphasis noun

Etymology

Origin of emphasis

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin, from Greek émphasis “indication,” equivalent to em- em- ² + phásis phasis

Explanation

While the emphasis, or main focus, for walking a dog might be on "answering the call of nature," the emphasis for the dog might be on chasing squirrels. If you say emphasis a little louder or with extra oomph in your pronunciation, you are putting emphasis on the word. This emphasis makes it clear that special attention, or emphasis, should be given to the word. Now, having repeated emphasis so many times, the "s" sound really stands out, sort of like in the word "stress." When you stress a point, you put emphasis on something — it is the main thing, the emphasis.

Example Sentences

And now, with artificial intelligence at every turn, Apple is showing that its own emphasis on hardware will keep it in the game.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

By choosing company veteran John Ternus to succeed Tim Cook, Apple’s board is expressing confidence in the company’s continued emphasis on hardware innovation.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

“Black Bag” tore up spy movie conventions with its emphasis on fidelity in the field, becoming one of the genre’s most scintillating new films in years.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

We’re going to place an emphasis on every drill in practice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

The post-war industrial expansion had resulted in more and more emphasis being placed on motion study.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Related Words

• attention
• insistence
• intensity
• priority
• significance
• strength
• stress
• weight