emblazon

verb

em·​bla·​zon im-ˈblā-zᵊn 

emblazoned; emblazoning im-ˈblā-zᵊn-iŋ 

-ˈblāz-niŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to inscribe or adorn with or as if with heraldic bearings or devices

b

: to inscribe (something, such as heraldic bearings) on a surface

2

: celebrate, extol

… have his … deeds emblazoned by a poet …

—Thomas Nashe

emblazoner

im-ˈblā-zᵊn-ər 

-ˈblāz-nər

noun

emblazonment

im-ˈblā-zᵊn-mənt 

noun

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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 represent armorial bearings in drawing or engraving” and emblazon, “to inscribe or adorn with or as if with heraldic bearings or devices,” came into use around the same time in the late 1500s. 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.

Synonyms of emblazon

• celebrate
• bless
• praise

Examples of emblazon in a Sentence

colossal statues and other monumental constructions that were intended to emblazon his name for eons to come

Recent Examples on the Web

In the final moments of the ceremony, the comedian sported a cap emblazoned with Spinal Tap, the name of the fictional band that was the subject of Reiner's iconic 1984 mockumentaryThis Is Spinal Tap. —Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani stood on the side of the nurses at the strike’s kickoff at New York-Presbyterian, wearing a red scarf emblazoned with the NYSNA logo. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

Castro, dressed in green slacks, a red cap, and a blue windbreaker emblazoned with the letter C, spent most of the night calling the plays in the manager’s box. —Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026

The coaching staff and players recognized Aldrich’s milestone by wearing teal t-shirts with ALDRICH emblazoned on the front, and took a moment to honor him before the game. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for emblazon

• malmaison
• blazon
• brazen
• hazan
• zazen

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Kids Definition

emblazon

verb

em·​bla·​zon im-ˈblāz-ᵊn 

1

: to inscribe or decorate with markings or emblems used in heraldry

2

: celebrate sense 3, extol

a name emblazoned in history