emblazon

Summary

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Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “emblazon” (June 14, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the verb “emblazon”—its definition, usage, origins, and evolution. Host Peter Sokolowski explores how this vivid word came into English and how it’s used today, providing illustrative examples and etymological insight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Spelling [00:35]

• Word: emblazon
• Spelling: E-M-B-L-A-Z-O-N
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: To decorate a surface, usually with a name, slogan, or picture.

Example Sentence [00:56]

• “Later that week, we were boarding our flight with the painting secured in an enormous case with a toothy, bespectacled cartoon squirrel emblazoned on the back and a speech bubble that read, ‘I’m just nuts about puzzles.’”
  — From All That: A Story of Friendship, Fraud and Fine Art by Orlando Whitfield

Historical Origins & Heraldic Connection [01:20]

• Blazon is a less commonly used synonym of the more familiar “coat of arms.” Both relate to heraldic designs—symbols and imagery like crosses, lions, and stripes, often seen on banners, shields, and armor.
• The verb “blazon” (to depict heraldic designs) and “emblazon” (to adorn or inscribe with heraldic figures) both entered English in the late 1500s, borrowed from French spoken in medieval England.

Modern Usage [01:53]

• While “emblazon” still applies to marking something with a heraldic emblem, it today more often refers to any striking decoration or prominent display—not just coats of arms.
• It can mean to publicize something conspicuously, with vibrant decoration or with colorful words of praise.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “To emblazon something is to decorate its surface, usually with a name, slogan or picture.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [00:37]
• “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.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [01:21]
• “Emblazon still refers to marking something with an emblem of heraldry, but it’s now more often used for adorning or publicizing something in any conspicuous way, whether with eye catching decoration or colorful words of praise.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [02:07]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35: Word introduction, spelling, and definition
• 00:56: Example sentence
• 01:20: Discussion of history and relation to heraldry
• 01:53: Shift to modern usage and figurative meaning

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This concise episode offers a perfect snapshot of how the word “emblazon” adds a touch of color—literally and figuratively—to both objects and language, showing listeners how centuries-old words still shine in today’s vocabulary.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

It's the word of the day for June 14th.

[A]

Not every sale happens at the register before AT&T business Wireless checking out customers on our mobile POS systems took too long. Basically a staring contest where everyone loses. It's crazy what people will say during an awkward silence. Now transactions are done before the silence takes hold. That means I can focus on the task at hand and make an extra sale or two. Sometimes I do miss the bonding time. Sometimes.

[B]

AT&T business Wireless Connecting changes everything Today's word is emblazon. Spelled E, M, B, L, A, Z, O N. Emblazon is a verb. To emblazon something is to decorate its surface, usually with a name, slogan or picture. Here's the word used in a sentence from all that A Story of friendship, fraud and Fine Art by Orlando Whitfield later that week, we were boarding our flight with the painting secured in an enormous case with a toothy, bespectacled cartoon squirrel emblazoned on the back and a speech bubble that read, I'm just nuts about puzzles. 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 or stripes that typically appear on banners, shields, armor and elsewhere. The verb form of blazon, meaning to depict heraldic figures or designs in drawing or engraving, and emblazone to inscribe or adorn with or as if with heraldic figures or designs, came into use around the same time in the late 1500s from the French spoken in medieval England. The word heraldry, also ultimately from Anglo French, came into use then too. Emblazon still refers to marking something with an emblem of heraldry, but it's now more often used for adorning or publicizing something in any conspicuous way, whether with eye catching decoration or colorful words of praise. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[A]

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