ENGLISH
REFERENCE

emblem

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈɛmbɫəm// UK //ˈɛmbləm// em·blem Archaic

n. a picture or object that represents a specific idea, group, or quality. It is like a logo or a badge that tells people what something stands for.

n. a symbolic object or design used as a distinctive badge of a nation, organization, or family. Often functions as a concrete representation of an abstract concept.


SIMPLE

The dove is a famous emblem of peace.

CONTEXTUAL

The school's emblem is embroidered on the pocket of every student's blazer.

COMPLEX

The eagle was adopted as a national emblem to represent strength and freedom, appearing on everything from official seals to currency.

Synonyms
Origin

From Old French embleme, from Latin emblema (“raised ornaments on vessels, tessellated work, mosaic”), from Ancient Greek ἔμβλημα (émblēma, “an insertion”), from ἐμβάλλειν (embállein, “to put in, to lay on”). Doublet of emblema.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of' to link the symbol to the concept it represents.

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