emblem

American  

[em-bluhm] / ˈɛm bləm /

noun

• emblems
  plural

1. an object or its representation, symbolizing a quality, state, class of persons, etc.; symbol.

   The olive branch is an emblem of peace.

   Synonyms:

   badge, device, image, figure, sign, token

2. a sign, design, or figure that identifies or represents something.

   the emblem of a school.

3. an allegorical picture, often inscribed with a motto supplemental to the visual image with which it forms a single unit of meaning.

4. Obsolete. an inlaid or tessellated ornament.

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verb (used with object)

1. to represent with an emblem.

emblem British  

/ ˈɛmbləm /

noun

1. a visible object or representation that symbolizes a quality, type, group, etc, esp the concrete symbol of an abstract idea

   the dove is an emblem of peace

2. an allegorical picture containing a moral lesson, often with an explanatory motto or verses, esp one printed in an emblem book

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• emblematic
  adjective
• emblematically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emblems
  plural

Etymology

Origin of emblem

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin emblēma inlaid or mosaic work < Greek émblēma something put on, equivalent to em- em- ² + blêma something thrown or put; compare embállein to throw in or on

Explanation

An emblem is a design that stands for a group or a concept. If you’re Scottish, your family may have an emblem such as a coat of arms that symbolizes your heritage. Many countries have national emblems, which often feature an animal or other elements that represent significant parts of the country’s history. A national emblem is often shown on flags or official documents such as passports. An emblem can also be an object that represents an idea. An expensive skyscraper could be an emblem of greed, for example, or the apple tree you planted in your backyard could be an emblem of hope.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emblem emblems

The Argentine Football Association said it "deeply mourns with sadness and sorrow the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi".

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

He was widely recognized for decades as an emblem of resistance against the Western global order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

A letter announcing the ban on smartphones for all government employees started circulating on social media last week under the emblem of the Supreme Court, which has not responded to AFP's requests to comment.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

It’s a fitting emblem of what’s to come in a long-planned show curated to coincide with the country’s upcoming semiquincentennial, and crafted to pose land itself as central to the country’s complex past.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

And then again a ship with black sails, but now it was morning again, and the water rippled with light, and a banner bearing the emblem of a white tree shone in the sun.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

They are clad variously in red porphyry, black basalt, gray granite and yellowish sandstone from nearby Montjuïc, with emblems symbolizing the four evangelists, the 12 apostles and an assortment of Catholic saints and geographic regions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Singapore does not allow the public display of foreign national emblems, such as flags, without a permit or exemption.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Traditional European landscape painting, rooted in Poussin and Claude, had always depended on parklike emblems of the Arcadian, or at least on signs of man’s dominion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

While the animal still graces flags and emblems, it is technically extinct in California, according to the California Capitol Museum.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2025

Most wear their emblems on their clothing, near the spot where they're marked.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• badge
• banner
• coat of arms
• flag
• image
• insignia
• logo
• marker
• memento
• motto
• reminder
• symbol
• trademark