Emphasis

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛmfÉ™sɪs/

Origin

From Latin, from Ancient Greek ἔμφασις (emphasis, "significance"), from ἐμφαίνω (emphainō, "I present, I indicate"), from ἔν (en, "in") + φαίνω (phainō, "I show").

Full definition of emphasis

Noun

1. Special weight or forcefulness given to something considered important.He paused for emphasis before saying who had won.
2. Special attention or prominence given to something.Anglia TV's emphasis is on Norwich and district.
3. Prominence given to a syllable or words, by raising the voice or printing in italic or underlined type.He used a yellow highlighter to indicate where to give emphasis in his speech.
4. (typography) Related to bold.

Related terms

• emphasise, emphasize
• emphatic

Anagrams

• misshape