emblem

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈɛmbləm/ UK /ˈɛmbləm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a symbol representing a quality, group, or idea

The dove is a familiar emblem of peace.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a symbol representing a... symbol badge insignia token sign device

Word family

Derived forms emblematicemblematizeemblematical

Etymology

From Latin emblema ('inlaid ornamental work, mosaic'), from Ancient Greek émblēma ('insertion, inlaid ornament'), from embállein ('to throw in, insert'), from en- ('in') + bállein ('to throw').

émblēma Ancient Greek bállein Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# emblem

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɛmbləm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɛmbləm/

## Meanings
1. a symbol representing a quality, group, or idea

## Examples
- The dove is a familiar emblem of peace.

## Synonyms
- symbol
- badge
- insignia
- token
- sign
- device

## Derived Forms
- emblematic
- emblematize
- emblematical

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: émblēma
- Root: bállein

## Etymology
From Latin emblema ('inlaid ornamental work, mosaic'), from Ancient Greek émblēma ('insertion, inlaid ornament'), from embállein ('to throw in, insert'), from en- ('in') + bállein ('to throw').

## AI Etymology
Emblem comes from Latin emblema ('inlaid ornamental work, mosaic'), from Ancient Greek émblēma ('insertion, inlaid ornament'), from embállein ('to throw in, insert'), from en- ('in') + bállein ('to throw'). Morphologically, the form is compositional: en- marks part of the visible structure, while the remaining element supplies the lexical base. In present use, it is used as a noun meaning "a symbol representing a quality, group, or idea", so the historical material remains connected with the current sense rather than standing as bare ancestry. The wider English family includes derivatives such as emblematic, emblematize, and emblematical, showing how the same historical material continues to organize neighboring vocabulary. The named historical forms include Ancient Greek émblēma and Ancient Greek bállein, keeping the history tied to concrete forms rather than a loose resemblance. Its semantic neighborhood includes symbol, badge, insignia, and token, locating the modern specialization without adding a new origin story.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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