Emblem Meaning
/ˈɛmbləm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA representative symbol, such as a trademark, a badge or logo.
nounSomething that represents a larger whole.
Sentence Examples
The note is embossed with the school emblem.
A lily was the emblem of French Kings.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The national flag features a proud eagle as its official ____ of freedom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The eagle is a famous ____ of strength for the nation.
Word Origin & History
From Old French embleme, from Latin emblēma (“raised ornaments on vessels, tessellated work, mosaic”), from Ancient Greek ἔμβλημα (émblēma, “an insertion”), from ἐμβάλλειν (embállein, “to put in, to lay on”). Doublet of emblema.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"His ſicatrice, with an Embleme of warre, heere on his ſiniſter cheeke;"
— c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 235:
"Yes, there were instances of grandstanding and obsessive behaviour, but many were concealed at the time to help protect an aggressively peddled narrative of Pistorius the paragon, the emblem, the trailblazer."
— 2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities […] ”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport):
"Broider'd the ground, more color'd than with stone
Of costliest emblem"
— 1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"An Emblem is but a ſilent Parable:"
— 1718, Francis Quarles, Emblems, divine and moral ; together with Hieroglyphicks of the life of man:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The national flag features a proud eagle as its official ____ of freedom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The eagle is a famous ____ of strength for the nation.