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 Nash

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

• bless
• carol
• celebrate
• exalt
• extol
• extoll
• glorify
• hymn
• laud
• magnify
• praise
• resound

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

The shirts, which are emblazoned with the words American Made, will be available in red, white, blue or heather and will retail for $12.98. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 24 June 2024

Dials become speedometers, hood badges are blatantly emblazoned on cases, straps and dials, or signature car colors are lazily woven into the watch design. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 24 June 2024

Those bricks of narcotics were emblazoned with butterfly designs. —Stephen Smith, CBS News, 19 June 2024

Back stateside, the singer sits at a corner table of a cafe in New York’s West Village on a warm day in May, wearing blue jeans, black-rimmed glasses, and a white-gold-and-diamond ring emblazoned with her initials. —Waiss Aramesh, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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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