Emmy

[ em-ee ]

/ ˈɛm i /

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noun, plural Em·mys.

(sometimes lowercase) any of several statuettes awarded annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for excellence in television programming, production, or performance.

Also Emmie . a female given name, form of Emma.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH Emmy

Emmy , Grammy, Oscar, Tony

Words nearby Emmy

Emmenthaler, emmer, emmet, emmetropia, Emmett, Emmy, Emmylou, emo, emocore, emoji, emollient

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT EMMY

What are the Emmys?

The Emmys is another name for the Emmy Awards, an annual award ceremony to honor excellence in television programming and production.

The name Emmys most commonly refers to the Primetime Emmy Awards, which honor primetime programming, but there are also other events devoted to specific forms of programming, including the Daytime Emmys, the Sports Emmys, and the News and Documentary Emmys.

The statuette awarded to winners is officially called an Emmy Award but is often referred to as an Emmy for short. The plural form Emmys is commonly used. Primetime Emmys are awarded to actors, writers, and to those in technical and production roles, as well as for specific series, including for drama, comedy, variety, and limited series.

The Emmy Awards are held by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, an organization for television industry professionals that’s often simply called the Television Academy.

When are the Emmys?

The 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on September 19. They are usually held in September.

The Daytime Emmys are typically held in April, May, or June. The Sports Emmys are typically held in May. The News and Documentary Emmys are usually held in late September or early October.

More information and context on the Emmys

The organization that became known as the Television Academy was established in Los Angeles in 1946, joining with a New York-based organization in 1955 and becoming the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The first Emmy Awards ceremony was held in 1949. The name of the award derives from the term immy, short for image-orthicon, a camera tube used in early television production. It was changed to the name Emmy since the statuette is in the form of a winged female figure meant to depict one of the Greek Muses of art. The ball she’s holding is meant to represent an atom, symbolizing the scientific aspect of the medium.

The first Emmys were focused specifically on Los Angeles county local programming. The first ever Emmy Award was an Outstanding Personality award presented to ventriloquist Shirley Dinsdale.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing the Emmys?

How are the Emmys discussed in real life?

The Emmys are considered the one of the top awards for television. The name Emmys is commonly used for both the ceremony and the awards.

How is there only one more episode of #MareOfEasttown? This show is excellent, and I'm not ready for it to end. I still have so many questions. Also, give Kate Winslet all the Emmys.

— Ashley Carter (@AshleyLCarter1) May 24, 2021

I've been doing TV since 1995. This will be my 1st time going to the Emmys & I'm presenting an award! 22 yrs later. #OvernightSuccess 🤗

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 17, 2017

Sincerity alert. Congratulations to all our hardworking staff for their amazing 8 #Emmys nominations. We could not be prouder of you.

— John Oliver (@iamjohnoliver) July 13, 2017

Try using Emmy!

True or False?

Emmys are awarded only for scripted series.

How to use Emmy in a sentence

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences gave him an Emmy for “his masterful use of television to inform and calm people around the world.”
Andrew Cuomo, once touted as the ‘gold standard,’ finds his brand tarnished by multiple crises|Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
The Emmy-nominated drama led to renewed backlash for then-prosecutor Linda Fairstein and other key players.
11 TV shows and films you can stream for free this month|Bethonie Butler|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
In early March, Silverman was in New York with playwright Joshua Harmon, who co-wrote the book, and Adam Schlesinger, the Fountains of Wayne founder and Emmy winner, who wrote the music.
Sarah Silverman just wants to make things right|Geoff Edgers|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
This Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actor has done quite well in her three-decade career.
It’s time to end the TV trope of the needy empty-nest mom|Michele Weldon|February 2, 2021|Washington Post

I’m Steve Levitt, and that was me talking with Mayim Bialik, the Emmy-nominated actress from The Big Bang Theory.
“We Get All Our Great Stuff from Europe — Including Witch Hunting.” (Ep. 446)|Steven D. Levitt|January 7, 2021|Freakonomics
The reigning Emmy champ coming off her best season yet on The Good Wife, Margulies could very well set that record, too.
Jennifer Aniston, Oscar Nominee? 5 Takeaways from the 2015 SAG Award Nominations|Kevin Fallon|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The first Film Roman Garfield cartoon won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program.
Garfield Television: The Cat Who Saved Primetime Cartoons|Rich Goldstein|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Shearer took home his first Primetime Emmy Award for his voice work on The Simpsons this past August.
Harry Shearer on Being Nixon, ‘The Simpsons Movie’ Sequel, and Why Obama Should Return His Nobel|Marlow Stern|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I remember thinking that I was going to win an Emmy that year for How I Met Your Mother.
Oscars Host Neil Patrick Harris on His Best and Worst Emcee Moments (VIDEO)|Neil Patrick Harris|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In its sixth season, Modern Family is still worthy of adoration from audiences—just not Emmy voters.
Stop Hating on ‘Modern Family’ (But Also Stop Giving It Emmys)|Jason Lynch|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
De vray, la bont et prudence de M. de Biancourt parust fort emmy ce fortunal de passions humaines.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
"We both think so—I mean we all think so," corrected Emmy Lou.
From Place to Place|Irvin S. Cobb
Mildred knew already what was impending in the romance of Emmy Lou.
From Place to Place|Irvin S. Cobb
It never could have occurred to Emmy Lou that Billy had laid his cunning plans to this very end.
Emmy Lou|George Madden Martin
So Emmy Lou put the pencil away in the companion, and tucked it about with the grimy slate rags that no harm might befall it.
Emmy Lou|George Madden Martin

British Dictionary definitions for Emmy

Emmy

/ (ˈɛmɪ) /

noun plural -mys or -mies

(in the US) one of the gold-plated statuettes awarded annually for outstanding television performances and productions

Word Origin for Emmy

C20: alteration of Immy, short for image orthicon tube

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