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Synonyms

emcee

American  
[em-see] / ˈɛmˈsi /

verb (used with object)

emcees, present (3rd person singular) emceed, past participle, past emceeing present participle
  1. to act as master of ceremonies for.

verb (used without object)

emcees, present (3rd person singular) emceed, past participle, past emceeing present participle
  1. to act as master of ceremonies.

emcee British  
/ ˌɛmˈsiː /

noun

  1. a master of ceremonies

"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

verb

  1. to act as master of ceremonies (for or at)

"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

Usage

What does emcee mean? An emcee is the person who serves as the host of an event by introducing performers, speakers, or other participants. It comes from the abbreviation MC, which stands for master of ceremoniesEmcee is a less formal way of saying master of ceremonies. Both terms are used in the context of events like weddings, banquets, and awards ceremonies, but, of the two, emcee is more commonly used in less formal situations. In hip-hop, emcee is often used as a synonym for rapper, especially one skilled at lyricism. Emcee can also be used as a verb meaning to act as an emcee. Example: The local radio DJ acted as the emcee and introduced the competitors of the breakdancing contest.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of emcee

1935–35, spelling form of the abbreviation MC ( def. ) or M.C. ( def. )

Explanation

The host for a performance or event can be called an emcee. If you're chosen to be the emcee for the school talent show, you'll introduce each juggler, singer, or comedian before they come onstage. Emcee was coined in the 1930s from the pronunciation of M.C., which is short for master of ceremonies. The emcee plays an important role in many forms of entertainment, as well as business events and other gatherings. Emcees introduce speakers at conventions, tell jokes and announce winners at awards ceremonies, and get the crowd excited between acts at comedy shows. You can even think of a circus ringmaster as a particularly flashy emcee.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing emcee

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:

Escorted by actor and perpetual emcee Bob Hope, Sam the Eagle descended the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 6, 2026

Comedian Trevor Noah is slated to emcee, and singer Chappell Roan is expected to perform for deep-pocketed advertisers.

From The Wall Street Journal May 12, 2026

Affairs Live along with The Times, while Nicole Blaine of the Crow, a comedy venue in Santa Monica, was the event’s emcee.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 9, 2026

He’s been little more than an emcee for negotiations, but wants us to think he invented armistice.

From Salon Feb. 13, 2026

For this segment of the competition, the emcee makes the contestants pick a number out of a bowl, and the corresponding judge asks the question.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

Minutes into the climb, the plebes roll their T-shirts up and throw them, like emcees at a ball game, toward the base of the monument, where other midshipmen use them to wipe off the grease.

From Slate Jun. 24, 2026

But the organization chooses its emcees with intent.

From Salon Apr. 2, 2025

Dance workshops, DJs, graffiti, and emcees will take over various spaces and the main stage will feature some of the best dancers in the world.

From BBC May 3, 2024

The rising rap star is steadily breaching her way into the conversation of hip-hop’s top female emcees, but she knew it was only a matter of time.

From Seattle Times Mar. 28, 2024

Dance teams were stationed along each of the foul lines, led by emcees who were part in-game hosts, part cheerleaders and part Vegas street performers.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 19, 2024

The festival kicked off Friday evening with the 46th Los Angeles Times Book Prizes ceremony at Bovard Auditorium, emceed by Times columnist LZ Granderson, recognizing both emerging voices and established writers.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 18, 2026

The 83rd awards telecast, emceed by Nikki Glaser, averaged 8.66 million viewers across TV and streaming.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 15, 2026

Poehler has won a previous Golden Globes as a lead actress on “Parks and Recreation,” and emceed the show three times with her buddy Tina Fey.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 12, 2026

Kimmel, who is among the top talk show personalities in the US, emceed the Oscars four times and has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003.

From BBC Sep. 22, 2025

When McEntire takes the stage at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas, it will be a record 17th time she’s emceed the show.

From Seattle Times May 15, 2024

Even the snobbiest TV snoots can’t resist Alan Cumming as the playfully sadistic laird of Ardross Castle, emceeing what is essentially a closed circle murder mystery.

From Salon Jan. 15, 2026

The comedian received positive reviews for emceeing the just-wrapped 97th Academy Awards, which saw a slight boost in viewership.

From Los Angeles Times May 22, 2025

Yanni Gourde, who played in Seattle’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche the night before, took on some emceeing duties.

From Seattle Times Jan. 22, 2023

Hot off the success of her first album, the 18-year-old told a newspaper that her emceeing career had a shelf life.

From Washington Post May 3, 2022

The kid who was emceeing the rally announced the next speaker, a girl named Ishani who had survived a rain bomb in India last year.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

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