Make Your Point > Archived Issues > EMBLEMATIC
Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.
pronounce
EMBLEMATIC:
Say it "EM bluh MAT ick."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Today, as we explore the word emblematic--meaning typical, symbolic, representative, or characteristic--see if you can recall another term that began as a literal type of mark or drawing.
It's impr___tur: Latin for "let it be printed." Used literally, it means "an official license to print books." Used figuratively, it means "someone's public, official support and approval."
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
"Emblem" has Greek bits that mean "an insertion," or more literally, "something thrown in."
In English, the first emblems were decorative inlays, like this one:
Over time, "emblem" took on other meanings, and today an emblem is most often some image or design that symbolizes some group, place, or idea. For example, here's the emblem of India:
And here's the emblem of Mercedes-Benz:
As you can see, emblems express some particular spirit or character. The Indian emblem with the lions expresses the nation's pride, power, and courage; so, the lions are emblematic of India. The Mercedes-Benz emblem with the three-point star expresses the company's elegance, simplicity, and, I'm told, "the dominance of [their] engines on land, sea, and in the air;" so, the star is emblematic of Mercedes-Benz.
But things don't have to be literal emblems in order to be emblematic of something. They can be, instead, statements, decisions, or events. "Her latest victory in the spelling bee is emblematic of her dedication."
So, if you say something is emblematic of something else, you mean it's clearly typical, indicative, or representative of it, almost as if it's an easy-to-see drawing or symbol of it.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "The white picket fence is emblematic of the suburbs;" "The Beatles' mop-top haircut is emblematic of the sixties."
Other common forms:
emblem(s), emblematically
how to use it:
Pick the common, formal, sophisticated word "emblematic" (instead of "symbolic," "indicative," or "characteristic") when you want to emphasize just how clearly and obviously one thing represents another.
Say that one specific person or thing is emblematic of some other, more abstract thing. "Oxen are emblematic of strength." "This latest stunt is emblematic of a larger trend." "His work is emblematic of the growing intellectualism in our culture."
I admit, it's a bit wordy to say that something "is emblematic of" something else. If it bothers you, then you might not want to pick the word "emblematic." You might prefer "exemplify," "indicate," or "symbolize."
examples:
"The iron lung became emblematic of the devastating effects of polio. Only the sickest patients ended up in one."
— Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, The Guardian, 26 May 2020
"Keith Haring... [had] a heart of gold. It always seemed emblematic that his subway graffiti did no lasting damage: he drew in white chalk on the black paper covering unrented advertising panels. Even more characteristic was Haring's habit of painting public murals pro bono. "
— Roberta Smith, New York Times, 11 February 2010
has this page helped you understand "emblematic"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "emblematic" without saying "symbolic of" or "characteristic of."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "(Something) became emblematic of (something bigger or more general)."
Example 1: "Nirvana's second album, Nevermind, was emblematic of the grunge movement."
Example 2: "By the early 2000s, the McDonald's Super Size menu had become emblematic of obesity in America."
Example 3: "The [Real Housewives] franchise that would eventually become emblematic of Bravo debuted in 2006."
— Silpa Kovvali, Salon, 12 July 2015
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for September is Solve the Square!
It's inspired by Squareword, which is like Wordle but in 3D. In each issue this month, find the 5-letter word that completes the square, creating words both horizontally and vertically. For a bonus point, define the word you've supplied. For the answers, scroll all the way down. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
C
A
T
C
_
O
V
A
R
_
P
O
S
E
_
S
I
T
A
_
E
D
E
M
_
review this word:
A. CONTRABAND (not allowed).
B. CONTRA-INDICATIVE (demonstrating the absence of something).
C. COUNTERPRODUCTIVE (causing the opposite of what is hoped for).
2.
Typically, we say that one thing is emblematic _____ another. Here's an example from Carl Phillips's poem "A Kind of Meadow:" "Through the wood the worn path, emblematic _____ Much Trespass."
A. in .. in
B. of .. of
C. to .. to
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Today, as we explore the word emblematic--meaning typical, symbolic, representative, or characteristic--see if you can recall another term that began as a literal type of mark or drawing.
"Emblem" has Greek bits that mean "an insertion," or more literally, "something thrown in."
Part of speech:
Pick the common, formal, sophisticated word "emblematic" (instead of "symbolic," "indicative," or "characteristic") when you want to emphasize just how clearly and obviously one thing represents another.
"The iron lung became emblematic of the devastating effects of polio. Only the sickest patients ended up in one."
Explain the meaning of "emblematic" without saying "symbolic of" or "characteristic of."
Fill in the blanks: "(Something) became emblematic of (something bigger or more general)."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |
