emphasis

American  

[em-fuh-sis] / ˈɛm fə sɪs /

noun

emphases plural

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

Derived Forms

• misemphasis
  noun
• reemphasis
  noun
• superemphasis
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emphases
  plural

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

See Examples For:

emphasis emphases

I’ve read a few interpretations of the narrative’s emphasis on labor exchange that assume these moments are meant to teach children that labor has value.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

Burnham also said the government would place more emphasis on "social value" when awarding contracts, which could include whether firms offer young people work experience.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

As the pace of AI spending continues to pick up, investors have placed increased emphasis on return on investment.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Dental schools, which have taught how diseases like diabetes affect the mouth, are also placing greater emphasis on how oral disease can affect the rest of the body.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

“Looks like the away team really puts an emphasis on bulking up.”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

The show’s photos, predominantly in black and white, document these dramatic emphases as revealed by the stances and gestures of Graham and her dedicated group of women.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

An agency spokesperson told ProPublica it is not unusual for the institute to publish directors’ letters with grant applications, and that this one informs readers “about this Administration’s thematic emphases in the semi-quincentennial year.”

From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2026

There were emphases on ballhandling, shooting from midrange, being aggressive, driving to the basket and finishing around the rim.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 12, 2023

"We need unity among free marketeers. Kemi and Suella Braverman set out convincing programmes, with differing emphases, for change," Lord Frost said.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2022

Freudian psychology has put total emphases on early childhood experiences and is the least suited for this purpose.

From The Black Experience in America by Coombs, Norman

Related Words

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