emblematic

USAGE SUMMARY

"emblematic" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means "serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept". You can use it in any context where you might want to refer to something being symbolic of something else. For example, you could say, "The bald eagle is an emblematic symbol of America."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is emblematic of a wider challenge the party has yet to address.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it is understood that the talks have effectively broken down with the Lib Dems digging their heels in over such emblematic issues for the Tory right as the European arrest warrant.

The Guardian

However, they did give David Cameron a sizeable majority, which he now lacks, and those of us with long memories will remember how that slender win in 1992 played out for John Major, whose war of attrition with a rump of rightwing MPs became emblematic of his demise.

The Guardian

The arrival of Valter Birsa from Genoa did not go down all that well with Milan's fans this summer, the signing of a player who had failed to hold down a regular spot while on loan at Torino last season being considered emblematic of an underwhelming transfer campaign.

The Guardian - Sport

Her best friend Anita (or "Needy" – one of Cody's slightly too clever clever emblematic names) Lesnicki, played by Amanda Seyfried of Big Love, Veronica Mars and Mamma Mia!, has known her since they were three ("Sandbox love never dies," she notes in voiceover), and acts as her sounding board, agony aunt and punching bag without complaint.

The Guardian - Film

She is innocent," adding that the case was emblematic of the police brutality and racism that she and her peers suffered.

The Guardian - Books

The growing numbers of young Britons drawn to jihadism are, for many, emblematic of the refusal of Muslims to integrate and revealing of the failures of multiculturalism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, the £17m deficit that has just appeared in the books at St George's, in south London, is emblematic of what the Health Service Journal describes as a pattern of "major financial holes … opening up all over the acute sector", holes totting up to £2bn or so.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the Tory high command it was George Osborne who spotted Halfon as a smart practician of "blue collar conservatism", co-opting his campaigns on emblematic cost-of-living issues such as petrol duties and hospital parking charges.

The Guardian - Opinion

The effort was sharply criticised for being patronising and emblematic of a rather tasteless strain of post-colonial guilt.

The Guardian

"What has happened is emblematic of the marginalisation of the political voices of the young.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "emblematic" when you want to emphasize that something serves as a powerful or representative symbol of a larger concept or trend.

Common error

While "emblematic" is a versatile word, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "typical" or "representative" would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The word "emblematic" functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they serve as a symbol or representation of something else. Ludwig AI confirms that "emblematic" is a valid word choice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "emblematic" is a versatile adjective used to describe something serving as a symbol or representation of a broader concept. Ludwig AI indicates that it's considered grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. As shown in the examples, this word is "emblematic" of formal writing and is used mostly in News & Media contexts. To improve your writing, remember to use it when you want to emphasize a symbolic relationship, but avoid overuse in very casual settings. Alternative phrasing includes "symbolic of", "representative of", and "illustrative of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

symbolic of

This phrase directly replaces "emblematic" with a synonymous adjective, focusing on the symbolic representation.

representative of

This alternative highlights the act of standing for or typifying a larger group or concept.

a symbol of

This uses a noun phrase to express the symbolic representation.

illustrative of

This emphasizes the clarifying or explanatory nature of the representation.

indicative of

This phrase directly implies that something serves as an indicator or sign.

typical of

This focuses on the characteristic or usual nature of what is being represented.

an example of

This highlights the instance as a model or pattern.

a sign of

This emphasizes the indicative nature of the representation, suggesting it points to something else.

suggestive of

This softens the assertion, indicating a hint or implication rather than a direct representation.

mirrors

Emphasizes how closely something reflects or represents something else.

FAQs

How can I use "emblematic" in a sentence?

You can use "emblematic" to describe something that serves as a symbol or representation of a particular quality or concept. For example, "The Statue of Liberty is "emblematic" of freedom".

What are some synonyms for "emblematic"?

Some synonyms for "emblematic" include "symbolic of", "representative of", and "illustrative of". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "emblematic for" a concept?

It's more common and grammatically sound to say something is "emblematic of" a concept rather than "emblematic for" a concept. The preposition "of" correctly indicates the relationship between the symbol and what it represents.

What's the difference between "emblematic" and "iconic"?

"Emblematic" suggests something serves as a representative symbol, while "iconic" implies something is widely recognized and revered as a symbol. Something "iconic" carries a greater sense of fame and cultural significance.