emphasis

American  

[em-fuh-sis] / ˈɛm fə sɪs /

noun

plural

emphases

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

• misemphasis noun
• reemphasis noun
• superemphasis noun

Etymology

Origin of emphasis

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

Example Sentences

College has increasingly become a box to check, with little emphasis on whether it meaningfully advances a student’s goals—or whether college is even the best path to achieve them.

From The Wall Street Journal

This shift puts extra emphasis on her words, as she voices them with a touch less assurance, lending vulnerability.

From The Wall Street Journal

His renewed emphasis on cost-of-living issues came as he prepared to join world leaders in Paris for a meeting of Ukraine's allies.

From BBC

In this context, Washington’s emphasis in the recent National Security Strategy on partnership, friendship and investment in the Middle East as key drivers of peace presents Japan with a timely and strategic opportunity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chevron’s emphasis on capital discipline, including a tighter capex budget and a pullback in buybacks amid weaker oil prices, reflected a broader strategy to preserve free cash flow, not grow production.

From Barron's

Related Words

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