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

But it is notable that Mr. Bhattacharya lays no more emphasis on these events than on the commonplaces of Charu’s everyday work life.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yields rose earlier this month as investors worried that a successor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer would place less emphasis on sticking to the self-imposed rules.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Hopkin said there was too much emphasis on "detection" rather than "prevention".

From BBC

It's understood there will be more emphasis on outcomes for children alongside the support they can expect.

From BBC

They’re taking longer to evaluate solutions, involving more internal stakeholders from legal and finance teams, and placing more emphasis on the kind of financial returns they might get out of the investment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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