emulation

[ em-yuh-ley-shuhn ]

/ ˌɛm yəˈleɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR emulation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

effort or desire to equal or excel others.

Obsolete. jealous rivalry.

Nearby words

emu oil, emu parade, emu-bob, emu-wren, emulate, emulation, emulgens, emulgent, emulous, emuls., emulsifier

Origin of emulation

First recorded in 1545–55, emulation is from the Latin word aemulātiōn- (stem of aemulātiō). See emulate, -ion

SYNONYMS FOR emulation

1 imitation, competition.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR emulation ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

non·em·u·la·tion, nouno·ver·em·u·la·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for emulation

What's not clear is whether Platt will profit or finally suffer from all the adoration and emulation.
Ripping Off Larry Platt's "Pants"|Kim Masters|February 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Eliphaz Laki had been someone worthy of emulation: a prominent civil servant, a regional administrator known as a saza chief.
Vanished in Uganda|Andrew Rice|June 5, 2009|DAILY BEAST
It was very much the same way I believe Obama will seek to lead—partly by instinct and partly by emulation.
Obama's Speech and the Burden of History|Harold Evans|January 20, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The painter wrought the work in emulation of his masters altar-piece (No. 38).
Venice and its Story|Thomas Okey

Yet there was a sort of emulation among them, "who should be the first in delivering the money to the spirits."
Authors and Writers Associated with Morristown|Julia Keese Colles
Emulation is the desire which is begotten in us of a thing because we imagine that other persons have the same desire.
The Philosophy of Spinoza|Baruch de Spinoza
The spirit of emulation thrilled all the thrillable workmen, but the riveters were the spectacular favorites.
The Cup of Fury|Rupert Hughes
This pact but stimulated the emulation of the three young people.
The Sufistic Quatrains of Omar Khayyam|Omar Khayyam

British Dictionary definitions for emulation

emulation

/ (ˌɛmjʊˈleɪʃən) /

noun

the act of emulating or imitating

the effort or desire to equal or surpass another or others

archaic jealous rivalry

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