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 name has been emblazoned on many of the fastest, most powerful and wildest-looking Mercedes-Benz production cars to ever hit the streets, signifying performance on everything from compact hot hatches to massive sedans to super sports cars. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025

Every season, Coach Hammersley rallied her team around a unifying theme, giving them a T-shirt emblazoned with a phrase or acronym that encapsulated their mission. —Don Yaeger, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

The doors of Korean establishments are frequently emblazoned with such prohibitions. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025

Soon the iconic Wu logo was emblazoned on t-shirts, posters, beanies and, of course, their albums. —Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 24 Feb. 2025

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