emphasis

noun

em·​pha·​sis ˈem(p)-fə-səs 

plural emphases ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsēz 

1

a

: force or intensity of expression that gives impressiveness or importance to something

b

: a particular prominence given in reading or speaking to one or more words or syllables

2

: special consideration of or stress or insistence on something

Synonyms

• focus
• stress
• weight
• attention

Examples of emphasis in a Sentence

Our candidate's plan has a different emphasis.

a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports

Recent Examples on the Web

These trips are an important opportunity to spend time with producers, review the prior year’s crop, taste coffees as they are being harvested, and meet new partners that are aligned with our company’s emphasis on organic production and benchmark quality. —Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Since Craig Breslow took over as Boston’s chief baseball officer the Red Sox have placed a greater emphasis on pitching. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025

Interim manager Warren Schaeffer, who served as Triple-A Albuquerque’s manager prior to his arrival at the big-league level, acknowledged that analytics’ role in development needs to be a point of emphasis. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 12 July 2025

Site selection consultant Tom Stringer, a principal and leader of the site selection and incentives practice at Grassi Advisors in New York, said that emphasis on economic strength and stability stands to reason. —Scott Cohn, CNBC, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "use of language to imply more than is actually said, implication" (Late Latin also "appearance," Medieval Latin "prominence of expression, stress"), borrowed from Greek émphasis "appearance in a smooth surface, reflection, outward appearance, setting forth, exposition, significance, force of expression," from empha-, stem in noun derivation of emphaínein "to exhibit, display, indicate," emphaínesthai "to be reflected, become visible" (from em- en- entry 2 + phaínein "to bring to light, cause to appear," and phaínesthai "to become visible, appear") + -sis -sis — more at fantasy entry 1, phase entry 1

Note: Greek pha- can be a stem in nominal derivation of both phaínein and the verb phēmí, phánai "to speak, say," so that prefixed words formed with it may have senses relating to both appearance and to speech or language, as is the case with émphasis. For the underlying relation between the two verbs see the note at ban entry 1.

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing emphasis

• lay great stress/emphasis on
• re-emphasis

Rhymes for emphasis

• emphasise
• overemphasis

Kids Definition

emphasis

noun

em·​pha·​sis ˈem(p)-fə-səs 

plural emphases -fə-ˌsēz 

1

a

: forcefulness of expression

spoke with emphasis

b

: the act or fact of giving stress to a word or syllable when speaking

2

: special attention or importance given to something

put great emphasis on cleanliness