emblematic

From French emblématique. See emblem.

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛmbləˈmatɪk/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• enPR: ĕmb-lə-mă-tĭk

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: em‧blem‧at‧ic

emblematic (comparative more emblematic, superlative most emblematic)

1. Serving as, or relating to a symbol, emblem or illustration of a type.

   Synonyms: symbolic, illustrative

   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 149:

     All was dreary—all was emblematic of that change and barrenness which passes away from nature, but never from the heart;...

2. (figurative) Typical.

   Synonyms: representative, exemplary, characteristic, iconic

   • 2015 June 9, “Women’s World Cup 2015: England beaten by France in Group F opener”, in The Guardian (London)‎:

     With Le Sommer withdrawn, France – now with five in midfield – seemed content to hold on for a deceptively narrow win. Such containment tactics can prove high risk but the only threat England could muster was a shot from Aluko which flew high and wide. It seemed entirely emblematic of their afternoon.

   • 2019 March 13, Oliver Norgrove, “Hypnotised by cake and unicorns, the Brexit perfectionists have blown it”, in The Guardian‎:

     The result of yesterday’s meaningful vote in the House of Commons, much like the first in January, was emblematic of a very striking Brexit reality: that the principle barrier to leaving the EU comes from the very people most desperate to see it happen.

• “emblematic”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Borrowed from French emblématique. Equivalent to emblemă +‎ -atic.

emblematic m or n (feminine singular emblematică, masculine plural emblematici, feminine and neuter plural emblematice)

1. emblematic