emphasis

American  

[em-fuh-sis] / ˈɛm fə sɪs /

noun

• emphases
  plural

1. special stress laid upon, or importance attached to, anything.

   The president's statement gave emphasis to the budgetary crisis.

2. something that is given great stress or importance.

   Morality was the emphasis of his speech.

3. Rhetoric.

   1. special and significant stress of voice laid on particular words or syllables.

   2. stress laid on particular words, by means of position, repetition, or other indication.

4. intensity or force of expression, action, etc..

   Determination lent emphasis to his proposals.

5. prominence, as of form or outline.

   The background detracts from the emphasis of the figure.

6. Electronics. preemphasis.

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emphasis British  

/ ˈɛmfəsɪs /

noun

1. special importance or significance

2. an object, idea, etc, that is given special importance or significance

3. stress made to fall on a particular syllable, word, or phrase in speaking

4. force or intensity of expression

   he spoke with special emphasis on the subject of civil rights

5. sharpness or clarity of form or outline

   the sunlight gave emphasis to the shape of the mountain

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misemphasis
  noun
• reemphasis
  noun
• superemphasis
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emphases
  plural

Etymology

Origin of emphasis

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin, from Greek émphasis “indication,” equivalent to em- em- ² + phásis phasis

Explanation

While the emphasis, or main focus, for walking a dog might be on "answering the call of nature," the emphasis for the dog might be on chasing squirrels. If you say emphasis a little louder or with extra oomph in your pronunciation, you are putting emphasis on the word. This emphasis makes it clear that special attention, or emphasis, should be given to the word. Now, having repeated emphasis so many times, the "s" sound really stands out, sort of like in the word "stress." When you stress a point, you put emphasis on something — it is the main thing, the emphasis.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emphasis emphases

Ironically, the emphasis on race is inauthentic to the original theme of the site.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Sellers have adapted accordingly, she added, placing greater emphasis in listings on features linked to summer comfort such as air conditioning and shutters.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

In 1986, similar levels of Democrats and working-class voters agreed with the statement “This country would have many fewer problems if there were more emphasis on traditional family ties.”

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

Riley wanted the facility to put a special emphasis on recovery.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

I now understand Willa’s constant emphasis on the importance of independence.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

The show’s photos, predominantly in black and white, document these dramatic emphases as revealed by the stances and gestures of Graham and her dedicated group of women.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

Where Hearts had made the right choices in key moments, Celtic too often took the wrong option with passes, crosses and emphases.

From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2023

And the difficulty of what he’s doing shouldn’t be understated: He’s not just repeating his part of the dialogue but replicating his pauses, cadence, emphases naturally and in sync with Hnath’s audio.

From New York Times ● Jun. 14, 2023

“Coming to work, being humble and understanding that we haven’t done much,” McCain said of the defense’s emphases.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 17, 2022

There are three grand divisions, or rather determining emphases, by which men may be separated into vocational groups.

From Preaching and Paganism by Albert Parker Fitch

Related Words

• attention
• insistence
• intensity
• priority
• significance
• strength
• stress
• weight