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Synonyms

emblazon

American  
[em-bley-zuhn] / ɛmˈbleɪ zən /

verb (used with object)

  • emblazons,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • emblazoned,
    past participle,  past
  • emblazoning
    present participle
  1. to put a design on (a surface) in a prominent place.

    The shirt was emblazoned with the company's motto.

  2. Heraldry. to put (a design or depiction) on a coat of arms.

  3. to proclaim; celebrate or extol.


emblazon British  
/ ɪmˈbleɪzən /

verb

  1. to describe, portray, or colour (arms) according to the conventions of heraldry

  2. to portray heraldic arms on (a shield, one's notepaper, etc)

  3. to make bright or splendid, as with colours, flowers, etc

  4. to glorify, praise, or extol, often so as to attract great publicity

    his feat was emblazoned on the front page

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Inflected Forms

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Conjugated Forms

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Past

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Etymology

Origin of emblazon

First recorded in 1585–95; em- 1 + blazon

Explanation

To emblazon is to decorate something with words or symbols. If you're running for student council, you might emblazon t-shirts with your name and hand them out to your classmates. The word emblazon means the same thing as the word blazon, “to depict or paint armor.” Both words have roots in the English word blaze, in the sense of “to make public.” No one uses blazon anymore, and these days you can emblazon anything—not just armor! Colleges and universities frequently sell sweatshirts and hats emblazoned with their logos, for example.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing emblazon

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Raymond often remarked that he wished he could emblazon the company’s headquarters near Dallas with the words “crude oil” so that employees would never lose focus on “what we’re trying to do here.”

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 10, 2026

He didn’t emblazon his body with tattoos of revolutionary personalities Che Guevara and Fidel Castro like a great footballer who came after him, the Argentine, Diego Maradona.

From Washington Post Jan. 1, 2023

The hotel isn’t much — the tackiness of the lobby furniture, speaking of memories, will emblazon itself on your retina — but Sophie and Calum take most of their setbacks and letdowns in stride.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 20, 2022

Most of that’s all gone now, and the controller looks a little sleeker for it — even if Turtle Beach had to go and emblazon an ugly REACT-R label on its top.

From The Verge Aug. 17, 2022

Its tall, steep walls are hung with foliage—a trembling, precious arras, which spring will so emblazon with her spruce heraldry that every blowing rod breathes a refreshing madrigal.

From Jonah and Co. by Yates, Dornford

The “Non-GMO Project” butterfly label emblazons more than 55,000 organic and nonorganic products on supermarket shelves today—many of which have no GMO counterpart or couldn’t possibly contain GMOs.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 5, 2018

A giant mural depicting the Manneken Pis in a jacket and jeans emblazons the side of the museum building.

From Reuters Feb. 3, 2017

In Orange County, California, the Voice of OC, emblazons its mission on either side of its masthead: “Give voice to the voiceless” and “Hold people in power accountable.”

From Salon Dec. 30, 2016

The result is imagery that emblazons itself on your mind with a fever-dream intensity.

From Seattle Times Dec. 13, 2016

He emblazons across skyscrapers, resorts and golf courses, but also leases it out to brand other people’s properties and products.

From Washington Times Aug. 5, 2015

Young people fluttered about, wearing custom white T-shirts emblazoned with the festival’s retro cartoon-style poster art.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 29, 2026

In December, Motsepe attended the ANC's national general council meeting, where some delegates wore T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "PM27" -- a reference to a possible presidential bid in 2027.

From Barron's Jul. 22, 2026

Later, he even emerged wearing a cape emblazoned with the words The Romantic, which appeared to nod to soul legend James Brown.

From BBC Jul. 19, 2026

When we see her next, it’s from a slight distance: pulling over to a roadside billboard emblazoned with her own face, peering sassily over a lowered pair of Starfire sunglasses.

From Salon Jul. 2, 2026

Next to it is a glossy envelope emblazoned with a gold stamp of the Warcross logo.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Or sell out by emblazoning its members’ faces on the most benign everyday items, including lunchboxes, action figures and makeup brands.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 4, 2023

Shine a light on these deals rather than just emblazoning the story the powerful want told.

From Washington Post Mar. 18, 2022

The quips literally add insult to injury, defaming the victim immediately after their demise, emblazoning the death with a caption, like a perverse eulogy.

From Salon Nov. 27, 2021

Garber’s style combined realism and fantasy, precise draftsmanship and decorative technique, emblazoning all in vibrant, shimmering colors.

From Washington Times Aug. 1, 2020

She was a good deal disappointed at that, but still very ready to help with anything calculated to immortalize her wee home by emblazoning it on the imperishable celluloid.

From Down the Columbia by Freeman, Lewis R. (Lewis Ransome)

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