emblematic
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of emblematic
1635–45; < Greek emblēmat-, stem of émblēma ( see emblem) + -ic
Explanation
Something emblematic is symbolic. Empty buildings are emblematic of a city in decline, and a crown is emblematic of royalty. If you know that an emblem is a visual symbol, then you won't be surprised that emblematic things stand for other things. In fact, the word emblem comes from the French word for symbol. Something emblematic represents a larger issue, good or bad. Sometimes emblematic is used for things that are excellent examples. An A student is an emblematic student, and a war hero is an emblematic soldier. Emblematic people are symbols of what others aspire to be.
Vocabulary lists containing emblematic
Viewing Current Refugee Crisis Through an Anne Frank Lens
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The Namesake
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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.
But some experts are getting flashbacks to an earlier generation — and the sorts of all-stock deals that became emblematic of the dot-com boom and bust.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
Many Venezuelans see Betancourt as a “totemic, emblematic, corrupt figure,” said Brian Naranjo, a former senior U.S. diplomat in Venezuela, in an interview.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
The tragedy was seen as emblematic of corruption and negligence in Serbia.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
So are the MetroCards, the small yellow magnetic cards emblematic of the city, which have recently been retired from use -- they sell for $6.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
Left with the class’s emblematic cars, Lilly Pulitzer skirts and Ralph Lauren shirts, their golf, tennis, and soccer, and, most conspicuously, their houses, they have staked out their place and inflated the American dream.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
