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The History of Emblazon
Blazon is a less commonly used synonym of the more familiar coat of arms. Both centuries-old terms refer to heraldic designs, symbols, and other imagery (think crosses, lions, stripes, etc.) that typically appear on banners, shields, armor, and elsewhere. The verb form of blazon meaning “to depict heraldic figures or designs in drawing or engraving” and emblazon, “to inscribe or adorn with or as if with heraldic figures or designs,” came into use around the same time in the late 1500s, from the French spoken in medieval England. (The word heraldry, also ultimately from Anglo-French, came into use then too.) Emblazon still refers to marking something with an emblem of heraldry, but it is now more often used for adorning or publicizing something in any conspicuous way, whether with eye-catching decoration or colorful words of praise.
Examples of emblazon in a Sentence
Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 13 June 2026
One half of the pitch was enveloped by a Qatari flag, the other was covered by a red rectangle emblazoned with a white cross.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 June 2026
The tagline is emblazoned on a giant roadside sign fashioned out of pipes on the corner of Main Street and South Stiles Road.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
The band members were surprised when fans unfurled a banner emblazoned with their lyrics, singing them as a rallying cry.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for emblazon
Cite this Entry
“Emblazon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emblazon. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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emblazon
verb
