emphasis

[em-fuh-sis]

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.

emphasis

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• misemphasis noun
• reemphasis noun
• superemphasis noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of emphasis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of emphasis¹

C16: via Latin from Greek: meaning, (in rhetoric) significant stress; see _emphatic

Example Sentences

She won gold in the Wellness category at the Stoperiet Open bodybuilding competition in April - a category which places special emphasis on natural fitness, healthy appearance and unobtrusive beauty, rather than large muscle mass.

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For as long as I can remember, people have commented on how photogenic I am—sometimes with an emphasis that makes you wonder what they really mean.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Bottum’s argument, at least in its emphasis on human logic and desire, cuts too quickly to making these the criteria for truth.

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The emphasis on the primacy of national identity and the need to locate political legitimacy in accountable national governments, rather than in supranational institutions accountable to no one, is welcome.

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Older buyers, for example, place less emphasis on finding good school districts than younger buyers with young children do.

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Related Words

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